A Spanish citizen, isolated at the Gómez Ulla military hospital in Madrid after testing positive for hantavirus, has begun to show symptoms, according to sources from the Ministry of Health on Tuesday. The passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship, where the hantavirus outbreak was detected, is not a resident of Catalonia. He was isolated after a PCR test upon arrival at the health centre confirmed his positive status.
Over recent hours, the patient has experienced a low-grade fever and respiratory symptoms. However, he remains "apparently stable" and shows no "evident clinical worsening." Five Catalan citizens and eight other Spanish nationals continue in isolation despite testing negative for the virus.
WHO Rules Out Larger Outbreak
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met with Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), at Moncloa on Tuesday. They discussed the disembarkation of passengers from the MV Hondius, where the hantavirus outbreak prompted alerts from governments worldwide. Adhanom thanked Sánchez for Spain's "leadership," stating he was "proud" of the country's operation. He ruled out the possibility of a "larger outbreak" but confirmed that more cases are expected in the coming weeks. Given the virus's incubation period, Adhanom suggested quarantines should extend until at least 21 June.
Sánchez explained that on 5 May, Spain received a "distress call" from the cruise ship, as well as from the WHO, the European Union, and about twenty governments globally. "Some recommended we ignore it, others demanded it, and some stayed on the sidelines. We heard many public representatives question why Cape Verde did not take on the operation, but we were clear that we had to protect our compatriots and help those in need," the Spanish Prime Minister said. He added, "This world does not need more fear or more selfishness; it needs more supportive countries to step forward."
MV Hondius Docks in Canary Islands
The disembarkation of the MV Hondius concluded on Monday shortly before 8pm at the port of Granadilla in the Canary Islands. The ship had to be moored there due to bad weather in the area. After the remaining 28 people disembarked, the vessel set course for the Netherlands.
The mooring took place just before 7pm, and within an hour, all occupants had left the ship on their own. They then boarded buses to the airport. Maritime Captaincy had recommended the mooring to "guarantee safety." Health officials had indicated the ship would stay in the Canary port for the "minimum necessary time" and that the measure would "speed up its departure."
Remote Island Reports Possible Hantavirus Case
The British army urgently dispatched medical personnel and aid by parachute to Tristan da Cunha, a remote South Atlantic island that is part of the United Kingdom. A man who had travelled on the Hondius and lives on the island began to show symptoms consistent with hantavirus and was running low on oxygen supplies. This island resident had taken the cruise to return home, taking advantage of the ship's stop at Tristan da Cunha on 14 April, mid-journey between Argentina and the Netherlands.
This isolated territory, over 2,000 kilometres from Africa and South America, has no airport and only two healthcare workers for its 221 inhabitants. This situation forced several medical staff to parachute in to help the patient, as the island is only accessible by ship, and a sea rescue was not feasible due to time constraints. British authorities noted that weather conditions at the location, with winds often exceeding 40 kilometres per hour, could put the parachutists in a "complicated situation."
Authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely, particularly given the WHO's projection of more cases in the coming weeks and the extended quarantine recommendations.
