Tenerife, Spain - The luxury cruise ship MV Hondius has departed for the Netherlands, marking the end of an evacuation operation for passengers and some crew members afflicted by a hantavirus outbreak. The ship left Spanish shores on May 11, days after arriving at the Canary Islands.
Nine passengers tested positive for the virus, with three deaths confirmed among those who travelled on the vessel. The operation involved the disembarkation of 94 passengers of 19 nationalities. The last group to leave consisted of six individuals – four Australians, one Briton, and one New Zealander – along with some crew. Their luggage will be returned at a later date.
Scattered Cases, Unconfirmed Results
Confirmed cases extend beyond those on the ship. A French passenger tested positive after docking in Tenerife, with her condition reportedly deteriorating. In the United States, one of 18 evacuated passengers tested positive but showed no symptoms, while another experienced mild symptoms. Lab results for an American passenger were noted as inconclusive by a WHO spokesperson. The outbreak is described as the first on a cruise ship.
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Background of the Outbreak
The MV Hondius's journey led it to Tenerife late last week. Despite initial reports from Spanish health authorities and the WHO stating all passengers were asymptomatic upon arrival, the situation evolved. A German woman died on board on May 2, and an elderly Dutch man was reported to have died earlier, on April 11. Spain accepted a request from the WHO to manage the evacuation, which commenced on Sunday, May 10. Spanish officials emphasized that evacuees would not come into contact with the local population in Tenerife.
