A third patient evacuated from the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius after a deadly hantavirus outbreak is being treated at the Radboud University Medical Center in the Nijmegen, Netherlands on Thursday (May 7).

The evacuation comes as countries worldwide step up contact tracing to prevent further spread of the virus, after three people, a Dutch couple and a German national, died during the outbreak on the ship.

Five people are confirmed to have contracted the virus, with another three suspected cases, the World Health Organization said. Hantavirus is usually spread by rodents but can in rare cases be transmitted person-to-person.

Three patients were evacuated from the vessel this week, with two admitted to hospitals in the Netherlands and one transferred to Germany. Health authorities have stressed that the risk to the wider public remains low, while monitoring passengers and contacts across multiple countries.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: NIJMEGEN, NETHERLANDS (MAY 7, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF RADBOUD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, WHERE A PATIENT IS RECEIVING TREATMENT AFTER BEING EVACUATED FROM THE LUXURY CRUISE SHIP MV HONDIUS FOLLOWING A DEADLY HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK