Hantavirus Cruise Ship: NZ Passenger Tests Negative 4 Times, Lifted Enhanced Self-Health Management

(Central News Agency, Reporter Chen Jieling, Taipei, June 7) The New Zealand passenger from the "hantavirus cruise ship" MV Hondius has tested negative in all four tests in Taiwan. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced today that the passenger's enhanced self-health management has been lifted, and Taiwan's IHR Focal Point has notified the WHO and New Zealand's IHR Focal Point.

On May 20, the United Kingdom notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an outbreak of severe acute respiratory infection of unknown cause on the Dutch luxury cruise ship MV Hondius. Tests on the same day confirmed it was the rare Andes virus (Andes virus) hantavirus, which can be transmitted from person to person. As of June 2, a cumulative total of 13 cases (11 confirmed, 2 probable) had been reported, including 3 deaths, resulting in a fatality rate of 23%.

Through notification via the WHO and International Health Regulations (IHR) mechanisms, Taiwan identified one New Zealand traveler who had been on the cruise ship and entered the country on May 7. Based on expert advice, the CDC arranged for the individual to be admitted to a single hospital room for enhanced self-health management and health monitoring until midnight on June 6. Today, the enhanced self-health management was lifted, and Taiwan's IHR Focal Point notified the WHO and New Zealand's IHR Focal Point.

CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui told Central News Agency today that this passenger was among the first to disembark from the MV Hondius. During the monitoring period after entering Taiwan, the passenger underwent four tests on May 14, May 20, May 27, and June 3. The tests included PCR for Andes hantavirus and serum IgM and IgG antibody tests, all of which were negative.

Tseng said the passenger remained in good health during the monitoring period, with no fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or other symptoms suggestive of hantavirus infection. With negative test results and the completion of the 42-day enhanced self-health management period, there is no risk of transmission to the domestic community. The passenger was released from quarantine today and can move freely in the community, just like any other person.

According to data, the international contact tracing for the "hantavirus cruise ship" is ongoing. As of May 22, over 600 contacts have been traced across 32 countries, regions, and territories, with approximately 53% classified as high-risk contacts. Monitoring is expected to continue until at least June 22, 2026.

Tseng stated that according to WHO assessments, no genetic mutations that increase the virus's transmissibility or virulence have been found. The overall outbreak remains confined to known chains of contact, and the global public health risk assessment for this event remains at "Low Risk." The CDC will continue to monitor epidemic information through international cooperation mechanisms such as the WHO and IHR and will adjust prevention and control measures as the situation evolves.

Citing WHO data, Tseng noted that preliminary epidemiological investigations suggest the initial case may have been infected before boarding the ship through contact with infected rodents or a contaminated environment on land, subsequently leading to the cluster outbreak on the cruise ship. However, the exact source of infection and transmission process still require further investigation.