MV Hondius arrives in Tenerife amid Hantavirus concerns

Sunday 10 May 2026 - 08:00

The cruise ship MV Hondius arrived Sunday morning on the Spanish island of Tenerife as authorities prepared to evacuate more than one hundred passengers and crew members following concerns linked to Hantavirus cases detected on board.

The vessel, which departed from Ushuaia in Argentina on April 1, docked at the port of Granadilla de Abona in the Canary Islands under strict health monitoring procedures. Although passengers are reportedly asymptomatic at this stage, health authorities consider everyone on board to be high-risk contacts.

According to the World Health Organization, six confirmed cases of hantavirus have been identified among eight suspected infections. Three deaths linked to the virus have also been reported. Health experts continue to emphasize that hantavirus differs significantly from Covid-19 and does not present the same transmission patterns.

Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease that can cause respiratory complications and other severe symptoms. There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment, making rapid detection and preventive measures especially important.

Spanish health authorities announced that all necessary public health measures had been activated to manage the ship’s arrival and ensure safe evacuations. Some crew members are expected to remain aboard while the vessel later continues its journey toward the Netherlands.

The operation is being closely monitored by international and national health officials, including representatives from the WHO. Authorities are also conducting additional testing and epidemiological investigations to prevent any possible spread of the virus.

The incident has drawn international attention as governments and health agencies remain highly alert to infectious disease outbreaks following recent global health crises.