A protocol breach at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands, has led to the quarantine of 12 employees. The breach involved a patient infected with hantavirus, linked to an outbreak on the MV Hondius luxury cruise ship. The incident occurred last week when the hospital admitted the patient, and officials discovered that the patient’s blood and urine were not processed under the strictest protocols required for this specific hantavirus strain.
The hospital stated, “Because of these circumstances, 12 employees will go in preventive quarantine for six weeks as a precaution despite the fact that the chance of infection is small.” The breach has raised concerns about the handling of the virus, which has already resulted in 11 cases and three deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans addressed the incident in Parliament, reassuring officials that the protocols followed were still considered strict, though not the strictest applicable for this hantavirus. Hospital executives expressed regret over the incident and emphasized their commitment to providing care for any new hantavirus patients.
The outbreak on the MV Hondius began when the cruise ship departed Argentina on April 1. It is believed that a passenger contracted the infection through exposure to rodents during birdwatching activities before boarding. The ship docked in Spain’s Canary Islands on May 10, where passengers were evacuated under quarantine protocols.
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