Spain initiated the urgent evacuation of passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship on Sunday, May 10th, following a detected hantavirus outbreak onboard. The operation commenced at Granadilla de Abona port, located near Tenerife Island, under stringent health authority supervision to prevent any direct contact with the general public.
As part of the meticulous protocol, medical teams dispatched by Spain’s Ministry of Health boarded the vessel to conduct final health checks before passengers began their gradual disembarkation onto smaller boats. This critical step ensured a controlled and safe transfer process for all involved.
The luxurious vessel had sailed towards Spain from Cape Verde waters on Wednesday, May 6th, after both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union urged Spain to manage the evacuation. This international call to action arose swiftly following the confirmed hantavirus outbreak on the ship, highlighting the global concern over the pathogen’s potential spread.
Previously, the European public health agency had categorized all MV Hondius passengers as high-risk contacts as a preventative measure. Despite this, they maintained that the overall risk to the general population remained low, providing reassurance amid the unfolding health crisis.
Phased Repatriation
According to Reuters, Spanish nationals were the first group to be evacuated in small contingents of five people. They were immediately transported by bus to the airport for a military plane flight to Madrid, demonstrating the speed and urgency of their repatriation.
Spain’s Minister of Health, Monica Garcia, confirmed that subsequent evacuation phases would align with the arrival of planes from each respective country. This staggered approach aimed to streamline the complex logistical challenge of returning passengers to their homelands.
“Dutch passengers will constitute the next group to depart the ship, alongside citizens from Germany, Belgium, and Greece,” Garcia stated, outlining the immediate schedule. Following these groups, passengers from Turkey, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States were slated for repatriation.
Garcia further added that the final flight in this extensive operation would originate from Australia, scheduled to arrive on Monday afternoon to collect six individuals from Australia, New Zealand, and several other Asian countries, marking the culmination of the international effort.
Before the vessel even docked, Spain’s Ministry of Health confirmed that the MV Hondius had successfully passed its comprehensive health inspections. In a statement released via Reuters, the Ministry affirmed, “The hygienic and environmental conditions on the ship were deemed adequate, and no rodents were found, making transmission through rats onboard highly unlikely.”
A contingent of 30 crew members will remain onboard the MV Hondius to navigate the vessel back to the Netherlands, where it will undergo a thorough disinfection process, ensuring its complete decontamination before returning to service.
Summary
Spanish authorities have initiated an urgent, controlled evacuation of the MV Hondius cruise ship near Tenerife following a confirmed hantavirus outbreak. Medical teams conducted final health screenings before transferring passengers to smaller boats, ensuring that all individuals were moved under strict isolation protocols to prevent public exposure. Despite the high-risk classification of passengers, health officials have reassured the public that the risk of transmission to the general population remains minimal.
The repatriation process is being managed through a phased, international effort, with Spanish nationals evacuated first and citizens from several other countries following in scheduled groups. While the ship passed comprehensive health inspections and showed no signs of rodent activity, a skeleton crew will remain on board to navigate the vessel to the Netherlands for a full decontamination. This coordinated operation highlights a swift global response to contain the potential spread of the pathogen.