12 Radboud University Medical Center Staff Isolated After Infection Handling Errors

Twelve employees at the Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands, have been placed in a six-week precautionary quarantine after failing to follow safety protocols while treating a patient infected with hantavirus.

The hospital announced on May 11, 2026, that the staff members were involved in the care of a patient who tested positive for the viral infection. The quarantine was triggered after workers did not adhere to a specific, strict protocol regarding the handling of the patient’s blood and the disposal of their urine.

Preventive Measures and Risk Assessment

The medical center has not disclosed the specific roles of the twelve individuals involved, and it remains unclear if they are doctors, nurses, orderlies, or medical students.

While the hospital has mandated the isolation period, officials stated that the actual risk of infection is low. The quarantine is being treated as a preventive measure.

“preventive quarantine for six weeks as a precaution”

Radboud University Medical Center

Connection to MV Hondius Outbreak

The patient at the center of the protocol breach had previously spent time on the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship operated by Oceanwide Expeditions. The vessel was the site of a recent hantavirus outbreak that affected 147 passengers and crew members.

The outbreak on the MV Hondius resulted in at least seven confirmed positive cases of the viral infection, with several other individuals suspected of carrying the virus. The outbreak was fatal for three people: a man and a woman from Friesland, and a German woman.

The patient currently receiving treatment at the Radboud University Medical Center was admitted to the hospital on May 7, 2026.