Passengers are being evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius in Tenerife following a hantavirus outbreak that has resulted in eight infections and three deaths.
Evacuation Operations in Tenerife
Approximately 150 people from over 20 countries are aboard the MV Hondius, owned by the Dutch firm Oceanwide Expeditions. The disembarkation process is scheduled to begin around 8:00 AM local time.
The operation is overseen by three Spanish ministers, including Health Minister Monika Garcia and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is also present, assuring residents that the virus is not another coronavirus, with additional support from the European Union.
Minister Garcia confirmed the operation is fully prepared regarding both sanitary and security measures. The ship will remain at anchor, and passengers will be transported to land by boats to undergo medical examinations.
Passenger Health and Repatriation
The Ministry of Health and the WHO have confirmed that none of the passengers currently on board exhibit symptoms of infection.
Fourteen Spanish citizens will be the first to leave the ship and will be transported to a military hospital in Madrid. Other international citizens will be repatriated once evacuation flights are ready, with flights already confirmed to France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
Ship Management and Crew Status
The Ministry of Transport has ordered the ship to be accepted at the port of Granadilla. The local government intends for the vessel to remain in Spanish waters for as short a time as possible and sail to the Netherlands immediately after the evacuation.
At least 30 crew members will travel to the Netherlands, where the ship will undergo disinfection. The ship’s captain, Jan Dobrogowski, a graduate of the Gdynia Maritime University, is reported by the Polish Chief Sanitary Inspectorate to be healthy and continues to be responsible for the ship and crew.
Political Conflict Over Docking
A conflict erupted between the central government and regional authorities shortly before the ship’s arrival. Fernando Clavijo, head of the Canary Islands government, announced a refusal to allow the ship to dock in Tenerife, citing a lack of dialogue with the Spanish government and missed operational deadlines.
In response, the Ministry of Transport issued a special decision ordering the acceptance of the ship at the port of Granadilla.
The Hantavirus Threat
Hantaviruses are typically transmitted through contact with rodent excrement, urine, or saliva, though some strains can spread from human to human. The pathogen can be dangerous to human health and life by causing severe respiratory diseases.
According to the latest WHO information, eight cases of infection have been identified on the MV Hondius, including three deaths.
