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Cruise Ship Evacuation: Hantavirus Fears Grip Passengers
11 May
Summary
- Passengers are being evacuated from the MV Hondius due to a hantavirus outbreak.
- Three deaths have occurred, with five passengers already infected with hantavirus.
- Evacuation flights are ongoing, with passengers being quarantined upon arrival.
The MV Hondius is undergoing a large-scale evacuation as passengers depart Tenerife following a hantavirus outbreak. Spanish authorities, alongside the World Health Organization, are managing the complex operation to repatriate individuals from over 20 nations. This evacuation, expected to continue through Monday, aims to safely return passengers to their home countries while implementing strict isolation and testing protocols.
Three fatalities have been reported, and five passengers who disembarked earlier have tested positive for hantavirus. While hantavirus is typically spread through rodent droppings and rarely transmits between people, a specific variant, the Andes virus, detected on the ship, has a rare potential for human-to-human transmission. Symptoms usually appear one to eight weeks post-exposure.
Passengers are undergoing thorough checks and are forbidden from local contact, with only essential personal items allowed. Crew members and the deceased passenger's body will remain on board as the ship sails to Rotterdam for disinfection. International efforts are in full swing, with countries like France, the UK, the US, and Australia arranging quarantine and hospitalizations for their citizens.
