Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship Forces Passengers to Disembark in Spain | WPN World People News

According to a Reuters report, the cruise ship MV Hondius, which experienced an outbreak of the Hantavirus, arrived early on the morning of the 10th at Tenerife in the Canary Islands to begin passenger evacuation operations. Spanish officials stated that none of the passengers onboard are currently showing symptoms of infection. All passengers will first undergo testing, and after being confirmed asymptomatic, they will be transported ashore in small groups by boat. They will then board dedicated quarantine shuttle buses to the airport before taking charter flights back to their respective countries, including the United States, Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

There are approximately 150 people aboard the MV Hondius. So far, six confirmed cases of Hantavirus infection have been reported, including three deaths, while two additional suspected cases are under investigation. Spanish authorities arranged for Spanish nationals to disembark first, with passengers of other nationalities evacuated afterward. All individuals involved in the operation are required to wear FFP2 masks throughout the process. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that everyone onboard is considered a “high-risk contact” and recommended a 42-day period of active health monitoring. Meanwhile, around 30 crew members will remain onboard as the ship continues to the Netherlands for decontamination procedures.

Due to concerns over the outbreak, residents of Tenerife have been protesting the ship’s arrival since the 8th, chanting slogans such as “We want tourism, not viruses.” In response, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, urged the public to remain calm, emphasizing that the evacuation operation poses an extremely low risk to the public. He stressed that passengers would be completely isolated from local residents, saying, “You will not encounter them.” Tedros also explained that Tenerife was chosen because of its strong medical capabilities, infrastructure, and humanitarian capacity, and said he would personally oversee the entire evacuation process.