Second Hantavirus Contact Person Released to Home Quarantine in Munich
Munich, May 22 – The second of two individuals who were in contact with a Hantavirus case from the cruise ship ‘Hondius’ has been discharged from the Munich Clinic and placed under home quarantine. The Bavarian State Office for Food Safety and Health (LGL) and the hospital confirmed this decision, stating that the transfer occurred on Friday based on the professional assessment of experts from the Munich Clinic, in coordination with Bavaria’s Infectious Diseases Task Force.
Expert Assessment Leads to Home Quarantine
The individual, who has remained asymptomatic for Hantavirus infection, will now be monitored by the responsible health authority. Authorities have established a “close-knit care network” to ensure comprehensive supervision during the home quarantine period.
This contact person had been in the Munich Clinic Schwabing since May 13, 2026. Another contact person was already transferred to home quarantine on May 15, also remaining asymptomatic. Due to privacy concerns, authorities have not released further details about either individual.
Ongoing Monitoring and Incubation Period
One additional contact person remains under observation in the infectiology department of the Munich Clinic Schwabing, despite also showing no signs of illness so far.
Authorities have stated that both contact persons will remain in quarantine until the incubation period has passed. According to experts, the Hantavirus incubation period, the time between infection and the onset of symptoms, typically lasts two weeks but can range from seven days to six weeks.
RKI: Home Quarantine “Fundamentally Possible”
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has indicated that home quarantine is “fundamentally possible,” with decisions made on a case-by-case basis, considering all circumstances.
The incident follows the death of a German woman on board the ‘Hondius’ due to Hantavirus. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs identified one of the contact persons as a 65-year-old woman who had close contact with the deceased. Bavarian authorities have refrained from providing specific details about the individuals, citing privacy protection.
This development comes as at least 29 passengers reportedly disembarked the MS ‘Hondius’ following the virus outbreak, and twelve hospital staff members in the Netherlands were placed in quarantine in connection with the case.
Source: https://www.zeit.de/news/2026-05/22/zweite-hantavirus-kontaktperson-zur-quarantaene-daheim
