TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS – In a developing international health crisis, passengers aboard the Dutch-registered cruise ship MV Hondius have begun disembarking at Tenerife in the Spanish Canary Islands. This move comes after a confirmed and deadly outbreak of Hantavirus on board, a rare but serious viral disease typically transmitted by rodents.
According to reports from Japan’s Kyodo News and Spanish local media on May 10, the vessel, which had been navigating the Atlantic Ocean, arrived off the coast of Tenerife. The cruise operator confirmed that approximately 150 passengers, including one Japanese national, were on board. While the ship was previously anchored near Cape Verde, it set sail on May 6 toward Spanish territory to facilitate an organized medical response and repatriation process.
The Scale of the Outbreak
The World Health Organization (WHO) and major news outlets, including AP, have closely monitored the situation since early May. As of the latest update, there have been eight suspected cases of Hantavirus linked to the vessel. Among these, five cases have been laboratory-confirmed. Tragically, the virus has already claimed three lives.
The fatalities include a Dutch couple, aged 70 and 69, and a German national. Investigations reveal that the Dutch couple had traveled through South America, including Argentina, before boarding the ship on April 1. It is suspected that the initial exposure may have occurred during their inland travels, although the exact origin remains under investigation.
Unusual Transmission Patterns
Hantavirus is traditionally known to spread through contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents (such as rats and mice). However, Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19 and emerging diseases, noted a puzzling detail: no rats were reportedly found on the MV Hondius.
While human-to-human transmission of Hantavirus is extremely rare—typically associated only with the 'Andes' strain found in South America—health officials are not ruling out the possibility of close-contact transmission among passengers. "While rare, we are looking into whether person-to-person spread occurred in the confined environment of the ship," a WHO spokesperson stated.
Disembarkation and Emergency Measures
The disembarkation process is being handled with extreme caution. Passengers are being transported from the MV Hondius to the mainland via smaller shuttle boats. Upon arrival, they will undergo a rigorous two-day medical screening process (May 10–11).
The Spanish government has mobilized a high-level response team. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Spain on May 9 to meet with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Following their meeting, the Director-General traveled to Tenerife alongside Spain’s Interior Minister Grande-Marlaska and Health Minister García to personally oversee the field operations and ensure international health protocols are strictly followed.
Repatriation and Future Monitoring
For the 150 passengers, the ordeal is far from over. Those who show no symptoms after the 48-hour screening period will be allowed to return to their home countries via specially arranged flights. The University of Nebraska Medical Center in the United States has already announced that it is prepared to receive and monitor American citizens returning from the vessel.
International health authorities emphasized that even after returning home, all passengers will remain under active surveillance by their respective national health agencies to prevent any potential local outbreaks.
As of Sunday evening, the ship's operator reported that no other passengers were currently complaining of health issues or showing symptoms of the virus. However, the atmosphere remains tense as the world watches the Canary Islands, hoping that the swift isolation and screening measures will contain what could have been a much larger disaster at sea.
About Hantavirus
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a severe, sometimes fatal, respiratory disease in humans. Symptoms often mimic the flu, including fever, cough, and muscle aches, but can rapidly progress to severe breathing difficulties. There is no specific treatment, cure, or vaccine for Hantavirus infection, making early detection and supportive hospital care critical for survival.
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