British Former Police Officer Hospitalized With Hantavirus After Evacuation From Cruise Ship

A British former police officer serving as an expedition guide on the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius cruise ship has been hospitalized in Amsterdam after contracting the Andean strain of hantavirus. The 56-year-old man was evacuated from the vessel along with two other passengers on Wednesday in scenes that included hazmat suits.

He told Sky News from his hospital bed that he was doing okay but remained in isolation with further tests pending. Doctors were expected to have a clearer picture of his prognosis within a few days. The man, who worked in law enforcement for 33 years, said he could not discuss his specific symptoms at the time of the interview.

A family member described the period aboard the ship off West Africa as traumatic and noted that the patient's condition had fluctuated before stabilizing.

A 41-year-old Dutch national and a 65-year-old German national were removed from the ship at the same time. Authorities previously stated that two of the three evacuated patients were seriously ill. Three other people — a Dutch couple and a German national — have died during the outbreak on the MV Hondius.

At least eight people, including a Swiss citizen, are suspected of having contracted the virus, according to the World Health Organization. The virus has been confirmed as the Andean strain, which can spread among humans through very close contact. It typically transmits through inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings, and human-to-human transmission is described as very rare.

The outbreak has placed health authorities on high alert.