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Hantavirus Cruise Ship Evacuees to High-Security Military Ward
7 May
Summary
- Passengers evacuated from a cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak are being quarantined.
- Three individuals have died, and others are ill due to the rare rat-borne illness.
- Spain's high-security military hospital is prepared for potential symptomatic passengers.

Passengers evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which is experiencing a hantavirus outbreak, are being sent to a high-security military isolation unit. Three individuals have died, and others are ill from the rare rat-borne disease contracted on the ship, which departed from Argentina.
Spanish citizens from the vessel will be taken to Madrid's Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital's High-Level Isolation Unit if they exhibit symptoms. This specialized facility is equipped for dangerous biological or radioactive agents and tropical diseases.
Upon arrival at Tenerife, passengers will receive initial medical assessments before military transport to Madrid. Those showing symptoms will be admitted to isolation rooms, while asymptomatic passengers will be housed in separate hospital areas. The quarantine measure is voluntary and requires informed consent.