Hantavirus-Stricken Cruise Ship MV Hondius Docks in Canary Islands for Passenger Evacuation

The Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak, has docked in Tenerife, Canary Islands, initiating the evacuation of approximately 130 remaining passengers and crew. The World Health Organization is screening individuals on board, including four Canadians, following an outbreak that began nearly a month ago. Spanish health officials confirmed that all current passengers are asymptomatic. Repatriation efforts are underway, with Spanish citizens disembarking first, followed by nationals from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Ireland. The outbreak has resulted in three deaths and eight identified medical cases, including five suspected and three laboratory-confirmed infections. The virus, typically spread through rodent droppings, originated with a Dutch couple who boarded in Argentina after traveling in South America. The crisis has triggered a coordinated international response, with impacts extending to Italy where contacts are isolating. Hantavirus can cause severe respiratory failure with high fatality rates, prompting strict monitoring and isolation protocols for repatriated individuals across multiple countries.