Deadly hantavirus outbreak sparks urgent evacuation from cruise ship in Canary Islands

Tenerife (Spain): Evacuation of passengers and crew began on Sunday from the cruise ship MV Hondius, which has been linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has triggered a global health response.

According to Spain’s health ministry, disembarkation started at the port of Tenerife. Officials confirmed the process was being carried out in a controlled manner, with passengers transported ashore in small boats.

“The disembarkation of the passengers and the Spanish crew member has started,” the ministry said on Telegram. AFP reporters witnessed small groups being moved from the vessel to shore under supervision.

The operation follows the ship’s arrival in the Canary Islands, where international health agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), are coordinating emergency response measures. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the ship’s arrival, stating that teams were on site overseeing evacuation procedures.

Medical teams boarded the vessel shortly before evacuation began to conduct health checks on passengers and crew. Authorities said the process is being carefully managed to reduce infection risk.

The outbreak has been linked to hantavirus, a rare but serious disease typically spread through exposure to infected rodents or their waste. Since the ship departed Argentina last month, three deaths have been associated with the outbreak, along with multiple cases requiring medical evacuation.

Passengers are being evacuated in phases, prioritised by nationality and medical condition. Several countries, including the United States, Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands, are coordinating repatriation flights for their citizens.

Spanish passengers are among the first to disembark and are being transferred under strict medical protocols, including mask use, isolation, and PCR testing upon arrival at designated medical facilities.

Authorities have also confirmed that US passengers who tested asymptomatic will undergo extended monitoring in specialised medical centres.

Concerns have grown in the Canary Islands over the handling of the situation, with local officials and port workers raising questions about preparedness and communication regarding the health risk.

After evacuation is completed, the ship is expected to proceed to Rotterdam, where remaining crew members will disembark and the vessel will undergo full disinfection procedures.

Health officials continue to monitor the situation closely, although experts have emphasised that human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is extremely rare and the immediate public health risk remains limited.
(With ANI inputs)