Home / Health / Hantavirus Outbreak Strikes Cruise Ship Off Tenerife
Hantavirus Outbreak Strikes Cruise Ship Off Tenerife
10 May
Summary
- Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship Hondius arrived off Tenerife.
- Six confirmed and two suspected cases reported by WHO.
- Spanish nationals to be disembarked first by air.
A cruise ship, the Hondius, carrying passengers and crew from 23 countries, docked off the Spanish island of Tenerife on Sunday following a hantavirus outbreak. Medical teams boarded the vessel to initiate an epidemiological investigation.
The World Health Organization has reported six confirmed and two suspected cases of hantavirus associated with the ship, tragically resulting in three deaths, including an elderly Dutch couple and a German woman. Investigations suggest the infection chain may have begun with the Dutch couple before they boarded the ship in Argentina.
Spanish Health Minister Mónica García announced that the 14 Spanish nationals on board would be the first to disembark and would be flown to Madrid for repatriation. The Netherlands will coordinate the evacuation of its own citizens, along with those from Germany, Belgium, and Greece, and some crew members. As of Sunday, no passengers or crew were reportedly showing symptoms.
