Hantavirus-Hit Cruise Ship Arrives in Tenerife as Spain Starts Evacuation

Spanish authorities have begun evacuating passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius after the vessel arrived near Tenerife in the Canary Islands following a deadly hantavirus outbreak onboard.

The evacuation operation started under strict health and safety protocols, with passengers being screened by medical personnel before being transported to airports for repatriation to their respective countries. Spanish nationals were reportedly among the first to disembark.

According to health officials, the outbreak aboard the ship has resulted in multiple infections and at least three deaths linked to the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) and European health agencies have described all passengers and crew as high-risk contacts requiring monitoring and isolation measures.

Reports said the ship, carrying passengers and crew from several countries, remained anchored offshore while evacuations were carried out using smaller boats to minimize contact with residents of Tenerife.

Spanish Health Minister Mónica García said the operation was being coordinated with international authorities to ensure safe repatriation procedures and prevent further spread of the virus. Several countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States, have arranged special flights and quarantine plans for their citizens.

Health experts have emphasized that the risk of a wider outbreak remains low, noting that hantavirus is primarily spread through contact with infected rodents and only rarely transmits between humans.

The MV Hondius had earlier been denied entry to some ports before Spain agreed to receive the vessel on humanitarian grounds in coordination with the WHO and European health agencies.