Passengers and crew members from the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius began disembarking in Tenerife, Spain, on Sunday following a deadly hantavirus outbreak that claimed at least three lives and infected several others across multiple countries. Special repatriation flights carrying passengers from Spain, France, Canada, the UK, the United States, and other nations were arranged, with health authorities enforcing strict quarantine and testing measures upon arrival. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a 42-day isolation period for all passengers due to the virus’s incubation period, which can last up to six weeks.
Health officials confirmed that six passengers tested positive for the virus, while several others remain hospitalized in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Authorities believe the first fatal case may have contracted the virus before boarding the ship during travel in Argentina or Chile. The hantavirus strain involved is reportedly capable of rare person-to-person transmission through close contact, although officials emphasized that the disease is far less contagious than COVID-19. WHO representatives and public health agencies urged calm, stressing that the outbreak poses minimal risk to the general public.
The evacuation operation was conducted under tight security and health protocols, with passengers transferred from the ship in small boats and transported to Tenerife airport in military buses to avoid public exposure. Thirty crew members will remain onboard as the vessel sails to the Netherlands for full disinfection procedures. Despite growing international concern, health authorities reiterated that no rodents — the virus’s usual source — were found aboard the ship, while monitoring and quarantine measures continue worldwide to prevent further spread.
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