The MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship, is currently sailing toward Tenerife in the Canary Islands after a hantavirus outbreak aboard. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed five infections and three deaths, but has ruled out any pandemic risk, stating that this is not the next COVID-19. The virus can have an incubation period of up to six weeks, so further cases may still emerge.
The ship is expected to anchor off the coast of Tenerife on Sunday, 10 May. Its 144 passengers will be transferred by boat to the airport. The 14 Spanish nationals on board will be taken to the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid for a 45-day quarantine. Other crew members will be repatriated to their home countries.
Timeline of the Outbreak
The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April for a South Atlantic crossing. The first death occurred on 11 April; the victim's wife later disembarked on Saint Helena and died on 26 April in Johannesburg. More than 30 other passengers left the ship at that port. A third victim, a German woman, died on 2 May after developing pneumonia-like symptoms.
Currently, about 90 people of 23 nationalities remain on board, including 38 Filipinos, 23 Britons, 17 Americans, and 14 Spaniards. The ship is now under the coordination of Dutch authorities and the EU, which has assessed the public health risk as low. For more details on the EU response, see EU Coordinates Response to Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship, Says Public Risk Low.
Earlier, three people were evacuated in Cape Verde due to suspected hantavirus, as reported in Three Evacuated from MV Hondius in Cape Verde Over Suspected Hantavirus. The situation has drawn attention to the risks of long-haul cruises, particularly in remote regions.
Passengers have described calm conditions aboard, despite the outbreak. For firsthand accounts, see Hantavirus-Stricken Ship Passengers Describe Calm Conditions as Vessel Nears Europe. The Canary Islands president has rejected Madrid's decision to dock the ship, citing local concerns. Read more in Canary Islands President Rejects Madrid's Decision to Dock Hantavirus-Stricken Cruise Ship.
This incident highlights the challenges of managing infectious diseases on cruise ships, especially those operating in isolated areas like the Antarctic. The MV Hondius had been on an Antarctic cruise before crossing the Atlantic, a route that has become popular in recent years. The outbreak underscores the need for robust health protocols on such voyages.
