The MV Hondius cruise ship at the center of a hantavirus outbreak arrived off Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday, triggering a large-scale international evacuation operation involving passengers from several countries.
Passengers were ferried ashore in small boats from the vessel, which was anchored at the Port of Granadilla carrying 147 people. Spain’s Health Minister Mónica García said the carefully coordinated repatriation effort went “according to plan.”
Spanish health authorities said 94 passengers from 19 nationalities were evacuated on the first day, with more departures expected Monday.
Several countries, including the US, Spain, France, Canada, Ireland and the Netherlands, sent aircraft to repatriate their citizens.
US officials confirmed that one of 17 American passengers tested “mildly” positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus, while another showed mild symptoms.
Both were transported in biocontainment units to Nebraska “out of an abundance of caution.”
Since the ship departed Argentina last month, three deaths have been linked to hantavirus, a rare disease usually caused by exposure to infected rodents’ urine or feces.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the virus is “not another Covid-19” and said the risk to the public remains low. US health officials also described the risk to Americans as “extremely low.”
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said one of five French nationals evacuated Sunday developed symptoms during the flight home, prompting authorities to place the group in strict isolation.
After all passengers disembark, the vessel will sail to Rotterdam with the remaining crew members aboard before undergoing disinfection, according to Oceanwide Expeditions.
