THE HAGUE, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch government decided on Friday that Dutch nationals aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius who are not showing symptoms will undergo six weeks of home quarantine after arriving in the Netherlands.
According to a letter sent to parliament on Friday by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, "There are currently no people showing symptoms of illness on the ship."
Dutch cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said in a statement on Thursday that the vessel was sailing toward the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Spain. The journey is expected to take three to four days, with the ship scheduled to arrive in Tenerife in the Canary Islands on Sunday morning.
The letter stated that all Dutch passengers, as well as Dutch crew members when necessary, will be repatriated as soon as possible after arrival.
"Which passengers and crew members will be picked up from Tenerife is currently being determined in consultation with the Spanish authorities and the shipping company," the letter said.
According to the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the likelihood of contracting the Andes virus is very low. The institute noted that the virus is primarily transmitted through contact with rodent droppings, particularly from mice and rats. Human-to-human transmission is considered extremely rare and generally occurs only after prolonged close contact.
Because the MV Hondius sails under the Dutch flag, passengers of other nationalities may also be temporarily accommodated in the Netherlands. These individuals will likewise be required to undergo six weeks of quarantine. "The RIVM indicates that such accommodation is feasible," the letter stated. ■