Hantavirus Cruise Ship Evacuation Begins After Arrival Near Tenerife

(MENAFN) A cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak has arrived near Spain’s Tenerife Island, where evacuation and medical screening operations are now underway, according to media reports early Sunday.

The MV Hondius, carrying around 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries, reached waters near Granadilla Port at approximately 5:30 a.m. local time, as authorities prepared a coordinated evacuation and health response.

Health officials reported six confirmed cases of hantavirus infection among passengers, with two additional suspected cases and three deaths in total linked to the outbreak. Two of the fatalities reportedly occurred onboard the vessel.

Passengers, who are currently not showing symptoms, are being transferred in small groups from the ship to shore for medical evaluation. Authorities said each individual will undergo health screening and complete epidemiological questionnaires before being cleared for travel.

Officials confirmed that the ship will remain anchored offshore rather than docking directly at port, with passengers transported in groups to land, followed by bus transfers to the nearby airport for repatriation flights.

Spanish nationals are expected to be evacuated first, with some set to undergo quarantine in a military hospital in Madrid for one to two weeks depending on medical assessments.

A group of 17 US passengers will be flown back to the United States and monitored in a specialized quarantine facility in Nebraska, while health authorities continue tracking all exposed individuals.

International health agencies, including US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), are monitoring the situation. Officials have classified the outbreak as a Level 3 emergency response and confirmed it involves a rare hantavirus strain known for limited human-to-human transmission in close-contact environments.

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