The Spanish government today detailed a special operation to receive the MV Hondius cruise ship, which is affected by a hantavirus outbreak. The virus has caused three deaths and five confirmed cases. The vessel, currently sailing towards the Canary Islands after anchoring off Cape Verde, will arrive this weekend at Granadilla de Abona port in Tenerife.
However, the ship will not dock. It will remain anchored off the coast, and passengers will disembark using launches to avoid any contact with the local population, according to officials.
Pedro Gullón, Spain's Director General of Public Health, and Virginia Barcones, Secretary General of Civil Protection, explained the operation. The Spanish government is coordinating with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the European Commission, and affected states. Barcones stressed that there would be "no possibility of contact at any time" between passengers and Canary Islanders. She added that travellers would not leave the cruise ship until repatriation planes are ready, and ground transfers would be under constant supervision.
Repatriation and Quarantine Plans
Six citizens from Catalonia and the Valencian Country, along with other Spanish nationals on board the MV Hondius, will be flown by military aircraft to Madrid. There, they will undergo quarantine at the Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital. The Spanish Ministry of Health is currently examining the legal framework to impose mandatory quarantines if necessary.
Gullón reiterated that the risk to the general population remains "very low". This is despite the Andean variant of hantavirus detected in the outbreak being the only one known to transmit between humans. The Public Health official noted that this transmission is quite infrequent and requires close, prolonged contact. The WHO confirmed today that five of the eight suspected cases related to the outbreak have been verified by laboratory tests. However, the organisation warns that more infections could still appear due to the virus's long incubation period.
Ongoing Monitoring and Future Steps
The arrival of the MV Hondius marks a critical phase in managing the outbreak. Authorities will continue to monitor the health of all passengers and crew, ensuring strict isolation protocols are followed during disembarkation and repatriation. The focus remains on containing the virus and preventing its spread within Spain and other European countries involved. Further updates on the legal framework for mandatory quarantines are expected from the Ministry of Health.
