The Greek passenger from the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius is currently under strict precautionary quarantine at the “Attikon” University General Hospital. This high-level medical operation follows a confirmed outbreak of Hantavirus (specifically the Andes variant) on the vessel during its journey from Argentina through the South Atlantic.
The mission to bring the 70-year-old Greek national home was a complex, multi-national coordination. After the vessel was diverted to the Canary Islands, the passenger was first transported by a Dutch aircraft to Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands.
A Greek C-27 military transport plane (as clarified by recent reports) was dispatched to the Netherlands to complete the repatriation. It landed at Elefsina Air Base at 3:20 AM.
Reflecting the seriousness of the protocol, the passenger was accompanied throughout the flight by a specialized doctor, an EKAV rescuer, and the President of the Scientific Council of EODY (Hellenic National Public Health Organization).
The passenger has been placed in a negative pressure isolation room. While he currently remains asymptomatic, he is required to undergo a mandatory 45-day (six-week) monitoring period, which aligns with the maximum incubation window for the Andes strain.
Greek authorities play down public concerns
Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis has issued several updates to clarify the status of the passenger and address public concerns:
No Active Illness: The Minister emphasized that the 70-year-old is afebrile and asymptomatic. The hospitalization is strictly a preventive measure because he was in the environment where the virus was present.
Zero Public Risk: Georgiadis stated clearly on social media that there is “absolutely no fear of the virus spreading in Greece.” The use of a negative pressure chamber at Attikon ensures total containment.
Humanitarian Response: Addressing social media criticism regarding the cost and risk of the mission, the Minister defended the decision, stating that “Greece never leaves anyone alone” and that any citizen could have found themselves in a similar predicament.
Authorities remind the public that Hantavirus is typically zoonotic (passed from rodents to humans). While the Andes strain is unique for its limited human-to-human potential, this is only a concern in cases of extreme proximity. The rigorous isolation at Attikon is designed to eliminate even the smallest statistical risk of domestic transmission.
Related: Hantavirus on Cruise Ship: What Is It and How Does It Spread?
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