Trade union CNV has called it “incomprehensible” that Radboudumc failed to correctly follow procedures leading to a total of 12 employees possibly having been exposed while handling blood samples and disposing of urine, and are therefore in precautionary quarantine for six weeks. CNV board member Bart Schnoor said responsibility lies with hospital management. “They acted negligently. It was known that this involved hantavirus, so it was no surprise. In that case, you must be alert to the latest developments.”

The union says the quarantine does not only affect the employees themselves. It is also very difficult for colleagues in the intensive care unit and the laboratory, the board member said. “They have to cover for the absence of their colleagues. And that while there are already staff shortages and a high workload.”

Schnoor expects that the affected staff will be compensated for the “significant inconvenience” of a six-week quarantine period, possibly through a financial payment.

Healthcare union NU’91 is also advocating compensation for the quarantined employees, arguing that all related costs should be reimbursed because the quarantine was imposed by their employer. “This has consequences for things like childcare and holidays. But these people also need mental support. Six weeks is not nothing,” said a spokesperson for the professional organisation and union for healthcare workers. NU’91 described the impact on employees at home and in the workplace as “enormous.” The union said it was “very surprised” that the most up-to-date protocols were not available.

The hospital has declined to reveal which departments the 12 employees work in, citing privacy concerns. According to NU’91, around half of those affected are nurses, while the others work in laboratory roles.

Radboudumc said the failure to correctly follow procedures around the hantavirus patient was an “unfortunate chain of events linked to human error.” The hospital previously said that “strict isolation protocols” were used in the treatment of the patient, but it later turned out that the correct procedures were not followed. “The most up-to-date international guideline regarding hantavirus was not yet available to our staff,” the hospital wrote.

“In general, we are well prepared for treating highly infectious patients. Our protocols are based on WHO and RIVM guidelines, which we adapt when needed,” Radboudumc said on its website. “This was an unfortunate series of events that we attribute to human error. It can happen, and it is particularly distressing for the staff involved and their families.”

The hospital has reiterated that patients should not be concerned. It says the likelihood of infection is “very low” and that there has been no risk to patients or visitors.

Of the 12 staff members, eight are in home quarantine and four are staying at another location. Whether they are showing symptoms and which departments they work in is not being disclosed for privacy reasons.

The patient is one of three people aboard the Hondius who were evacuated from Cape Verde last week.