Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius: Evacuations Underway in the Canary Islands

The cruise ship MV Hondius, which has been struck by a hantavirus outbreak, has arrived in Spain's Canary Islands, where plans are underway for the evacuation of nearly 150 passengers. The Dutch-flagged vessel docked in Granadilla on Sunday, accompanied by a Civil Guard vessel for safety precautions. Most of the people on board will be evacuated and repatriated following weeks at sea amidst rising concerns about the virus, which typically spreads through rodent contact. The evacuation process will commence with Spanish passengers and crew, along with an African medical expert. Disembarkation will occur in small groups of five, coordinated with flights that are ready to depart from Tenerife South International Airport. The MV Hondius's journey has been overshadowed by tragedy, as three passengers—a Dutch couple and a German woman—lost their lives, and several others have fallen ill with the hantavirus. Health authorities have confirmed that the Andes virus, the only hantavirus type capable of person-to-person transmission, has been identified among those who tested positive. "We classify everybody on board as what we call a high-risk contact," noted Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention. Despite the seriousness of the outbreak, both WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and local officials assured the public that the risk to the general population in the Canary Islands remains low. In an open letter directed to the inhabitants of Tenerife, Tedros emphasized, "This is not another Covid," seeking to ease the minds of those concerned about the arrival of the cruise ship. After arriving in Tenerife, he expressed confidence in a successful operation and commended the community for their solidarity. The WHO confirmed six cases from eight suspected cases, with no more suspected cases remaining on the ship. The MV Hondius had departed from Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, making its way toward Cape Verde, where three infected passengers were evacuated earlier. Health officials in Spain, as well as their counterparts across various nations, have been tracing contacts with those who previously disembarked. A flight attendant on a KLM flight who interacted with one of the infected passengers exhibited mild symptoms but tested negative for hantavirus. Along with this, authorities are monitoring a woman who experienced symptoms after being on the flight, isolating her in a hospital. Efforts are also ongoing in Singapore, where two residents who were on the ship tested negative but are remaining in quarantine, and British health authorities are investigating a suspected case on Tristan da Cunha, one of the world's most isolated communities. As the operation to evacuate the MV Hondius continues, authorities emphasize diligent safety measures, ensuring that contact with the local population is minimized and establishing safety zones around the ship for the protection of all. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2