Hantavirus Ship Evacuated from Canary Islands: 3 in Biocontainment, Hundreds Disembarked

Hantavirus Ship Evacuation Near Tenerife

The MV Hondius, the hantavirus ship that sparked the first recorded Andes hantavirus outbreak on a cruise liner, docked at the Canary Islands on Saturday. Spanish authorities, in concert with the World Health Organization, began a massive evacuation that will see ↓ 147 passengers flown off the island via dedicated repatriation aircraft. Three individuals remain under biocontainment as they are transferred to specialized facilities.

“The situation is being managed with the utmost caution,” a WHO spokesperson said.

As of Monday morning, the final group of travelers is slated to leave, while a crew of ↓ 30 will stay aboard to navigate the vessel back to Rotterdam, Netherlands. The operation, coordinated by Spain, the WHO and national health ministries, avoids commercial flights to limit exposure. Reuters reported that a new hantavirus case was confirmed among the disembarking passengers, prompting heightened surveillance. Health officials warn that monitoring will continue for the next incubation period. All evacuees are under observation as authorities work to contain any further spread.