London: Two Indian citizens serving as crew members aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius have been successfully evacuated to the Netherlands following a hantavirus outbreak, the Indian Embassy in Spain confirmed Sunday. Both individuals are reported to be in good health and currently show no symptoms of the illness.

The vessel, a luxury cruiser managed by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1. It arrived in Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday after reports of the viral infection surfaced during the voyage.

According to a statement released by the Indian mission on social media, the ship carried approximately 150 people, including the two Indian nationals. The mission noted that the vessel remained at anchor in the Canary Islands while passengers began disembarking under the strict guidance of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Spanish officials.

"As informed by the Spanish National Centre for Emergency Monitoring and Coordination (CENEM), the two Indian nationals who were travelling as crew members have been evacuated to the Netherlands, where they will be quarantined as per relevant health safety protocol," the embassy stated.

Jayant N. Khobragade, the Indian Ambassador to Spain, remains in direct communication with the two crew members and Spanish authorities to monitor their safety and welfare.

Health and Safety Protocols

Following the commencement of the disembarkation process, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus provided an update on the international response via social media.

"WHO experts on the ground are working with the Spanish Health Ministry on the epidemiological assessment of the passengers and coordinating charter flights with the Interior Ministry," Tedros said.

The complex evacuation involved rigorous disinfection measures and the mandatory use of personal protective equipment during every stage of the transfer. Tedros further noted that "Exterior Health confirms that all are asymptomatic" among those processed during the operation.

Understanding Hantavirus

Hantaviruses are primarily spread to humans through interaction with infected rodents or their biological waste, including saliva, faeces, and urine. Infection typically occurs when individuals inhale aerosolised particles of the virus in confined or inadequately ventilated environments, such as ships, barns, or storage facilities.

Medical experts suggest the cases reported on the MV Hondius appear to be isolated. Symptoms generally manifest between one and eight weeks following initial exposure. To date, three fatalities have been recorded since the onset of the outbreak, and the Associated Press reports that five passengers who have left the ship are confirmed to be infected.

With inputs from PTI