{Excerpt}
Key messages
-- As of 9 May 2026, a total of eight cases of Andes virus infection, including three deaths and one critically ill patient, linked to the M/V Hondius cruise ship have been reported.
-- ECDC has classified all people on board the ship and for the purpose of disembarkation and repatriation to be high-risk contacts.
-- Monitoring/quarantine up to six weeks (42 days); Day 0 = 6 May 2026.
-- High-risk contacts:
- self-quarantine,
- daily symptom monitoring,
- test if symptomatic.
-- Low-risk contacts:
- passive monitoring;
- isolate and test if symptoms develop.
-- Flights:
- trace contacts for probable/confirmed cases only (same row ±2 rows on long flights).
-- IPC:
- masking,
- one to two metres distancing,
- PPE for healthcare/cleaning
-- Strong risk communication and misinformation management.
-- This document provides advice for public health professionals in the EU/EEA managing individuals potentially exposed to ANDV, including on:
- Defining contact classification criteria based on level of exposure, including close and prolonged contact with symptomatic people;
- The identification, management and monitoring of contacts, including advice on testing;
- Appropriate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures for managing repatriated passengers and crew, suspected and confirmed cases and their contacts in healthcare and community settings; and
- Risk communication, community engagement and the management of misinformation.
-- ECDC rapid scientific advice disclosure statement:
- ECDC issues rapid scientific advice to meet an emergent or urgent public health need or to quickly reply to external requests.
- To accommodate the accelerated timeline, the process and methods used for the development of rapid scientific advice may be modified from those of standard assessments and recommendations. Potential limitations are described.
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Suggested citation: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Rapid Scientific Advice on the management of passengers: In the context of the Andes virus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. Stockholm: ECDC; 2026.
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