Hantavirus Cruise Ship Evacuation: Passengers Routed to Madrid, Paris and Nebraska

hantavirus cruise ship evacuation updates

The first wave of passengers left the MV Hondius, now anchored off Tenerife, and touched down in Madrid where they were transferred to a military hospital. Spanish nationals arrived early Sunday, followed by Canadians, Dutch-German-Belgian-Greek groups and an American contingent slated for 5:30 p.m. local time. Reuters confirmed that no passenger has shown symptoms, though ↓ 3 deaths and ↑ 5 cases have been recorded among those who disembarked earlier. WHO epidemiologist Maria van Kerkhove warned that additional flights will repatriate travelers to Turkey, the UK and Ireland.

“This is not another COVID. The public risk is low,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Protective gear—hazmat suits, respirators and masks—covered staff at Granadilla port, and disinfectant mist sprayed the tarmac, footage showed via AP News. Passengers expressed relief as buses ferried them away, according to WHO Health Operations Lead Diana Rojas Alvarez. After Madrid arrival, the 14 Spanish citizens will remain under quarantine, while the U.S. cohort heads to a Nebraska medical center. The UK team will undergo observation upon return, and France mandates a 72-hour hospital stay followed by a 45-day home quarantine. Australia plans a final evacuation flight on Monday, and Norway has dispatched an ambulance equipped for high-risk infections. The ship will sail to Rotterdam for a five-day decontamination cycle, leaving behind luggage and the body of a passenger who succumbed to the disease. For broader context on how this mirrors past health crises, see our pandemic analysis.

Analysis by: Julian Vance

Senior Global Security Correspondent