Spain’s Canary Islands Reject Hantavirus Cruise Ship Over Safety Concerns

The regional government of Spain’s Canary Islands has rejected plans to allow a cruise ship affected by a deadly hantavirus outbreak to dock on its shores, sparking a standoff with the central government in Madrid.

Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo said the decision was based on insufficient information and lack of technical guarantees to ensure public safety. He criticized Spanish authorities for moving ahead with docking plans without adequate consultation, calling for urgent talks with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

The vessel, identified as the MV Hondius, has been stranded in the Atlantic after being denied entry by Cape Verde. It is carrying around 150 passengers and crew, with confirmed cases of hantavirus, specifically the rare Andes strain, which can spread between humans.

At least three people have died and several others have fallen ill since the outbreak began, prompting emergency evacuations and international monitoring. The World Health Organization has described the overall public health risk as low but acknowledged the unusual nature of the strain involved.

Despite regional opposition, Spain’s central government has signaled willingness to accept the ship on humanitarian grounds, citing the Canary Islands’ medical capacity to manage the situation.

Passengers onboard are reportedly adhering to strict health protocols, including isolation measures and mask usage, as authorities race to determine a safe resolution. Meanwhile, concerns persist over potential transmission, with contact tracing underway across multiple countries.

The dispute highlights growing tensions between regional and national authorities over crisis management, as well as broader concerns about handling infectious disease outbreaks in international waters.