Cruise Ship Hit by Hantavirus Outbreak Arrives in Tenerife; Passengers Await Repatriation
May 10, 2026 | Burma Independent Voice
A cruise ship grappling with a Hantavirus outbreak has docked at Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. Arrangements are currently underway to systematically repatriate the 147 passengers to their respective home countries.
As the sun rose, security vessels sounding sirens escorted the MV Hondius as it pulled into the Port of Granadilla. On the pier, personnel in full protective suits and officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) stood ready to manage the arrival.
The vessel, which departed from Argentina last month, reported three fatalities linked to Hantavirus—a virus typically transmitted through contact with rodent urine or droppings. Several other passengers had already been medically evacuated during the voyage to receive urgent treatment.
The Spanish Health Minister confirmed that medical teams have boarded the ship to conduct health screenings for all passengers and crew. Passengers will be ferried to the shore in groups by small boats, organized by nationality.
Countries including the United States, Germany, and France have dispatched aircraft to retrieve their citizens. The 17 American nationals on board will be transported to the specialized quarantine facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where they will undergo a 42-day observation period upon arrival.
Fourteen Spanish passengers are expected to be the first to disembark; they will be transferred to a military hospital for isolation and further testing.
The arrival of the ship sparked controversy among local leaders and met with protests from port workers, who voiced concerns over potential disease transmission.
Once all passengers have disembarked, the MV Hondius is scheduled to sail to Rotterdam, Netherlands, for a comprehensive deep-cleaning and disinfection process. Currently, the WHO maintains that the virus poses a low risk to the general public.
