MADRID — Spanish authorities were preparing on Saturday to evacuate more than 140 passengers and crew from a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship expected to arrive at the Canary Islands the following day, officials said.
The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, carrying passengers and crew from multiple countries, is scheduled to reach waters off Tenerife on Sunday. Spanish emergency services plan to transfer those on board via smaller boats to a cordoned-off area for medical screening and repatriation flights, according to regional and national officials.
The ship was sailing from Argentina toward Cape Verde when a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses was reported in early May. Health authorities later confirmed a hantavirus outbreak, with several cases progressing to serious illness. As of earlier this week, at least seven to eight confirmed or suspected cases had been identified, including three deaths, according to the World Health Organization and European health agencies.
Spain’s head of emergency services, Virginia Barcones, said passengers would be taken to a “completely isolated, cordoned-off area” upon arrival. Evacuees are expected to be transported by sealed buses to Tenerife’s airport for flights home once arrangements are finalized, she told state broadcaster TVE.
“The operation must be completed within a tight window due to weather conditions,” a Canary Islands regional government spokesperson said, warning that delays could extend the process significantly.
The vessel has been at sea for weeks following the outbreak. Some symptomatic individuals were previously evacuated to South Africa for treatment. The remaining passengers and crew have been monitored aboard the ship, with no new symptomatic cases reported in recent days, officials said.
Hantavirus, which can cause severe pulmonary syndrome, is typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings. The specific strain involved in this outbreak has raised concerns due to reports of possible human-to-human transmission in some cases, though further investigations continue, the WHO has stated.
Authorities from Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and other countries have coordinated the response with international health organizations. Passengers include nationals from more than 20 countries.
As of Saturday, the MV Hondius was en route to Tenerife. Spanish officials said the evacuation would prioritize rapid but controlled disembarkation to minimize risks, with all individuals undergoing health checks before repatriation. The situation remained under close monitoring by public health authorities.
