Spanish Authorities Board Cruise Ship for Passenger Evacuation After Hantavirus Cases

Spain has started evacuating passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship, struck by a hantavirus outbreak and anchored close to Tenerife. Health officials boarded the vessel on Sunday for a final health screening before commencing the disembarkation, according to the Spanish health ministry.

The initial group consists of Spanish nationals, who will be ferried to shore using small boats. They will then board sealed buses for direct transport to the nearby airport and a government-provided flight back to Madrid. Officials stressed that these passengers will avoid any contact with the general public.

Health Minister Mónica García stated that the evacuation will continue through Monday afternoon. After the Spanish passengers, those from the Netherlands will depart next - along with individuals from Germany, Belgium, and Greece on the Dutch flight.

Subsequently, passengers from Turkey, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States will be evacuated, the minister told reporters at the Tenerife port.

Thirty crew members are set to stay aboard and navigate the ship to the Netherlands for thorough disinfection.

Europe's public health agency classified all passengers on the luxury MV Hondius as high-risk contacts out of caution, in its latest rapid scientific guidance issued late Saturday.

The agency recommended prioritizing symptomatic individuals for medical evaluation and testing upon arrival. Depending on their health status, they could face isolation in Tenerife or medical repatriation to their home countries.

WHO Leader Coordinates Response in Tenerife

The MV Hondius departed from Cape Verde's coast on Wednesday, following requests from the World Health Organization and the European Union for Spain to handle passenger evacuations after confirming the hantavirus outbreak.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Tenerife, part of Spain's Canary Islands, on Saturday evening. He joined the country's interior minister, health minister, and territorial policy minister to oversee the operation.

The WHO reported Friday that eight people aboard had become ill, including three fatalities - a Dutch couple and a German citizen. Six cases are laboratory-confirmed, with two more suspected.

Typically transmitted by rodents, hantavirus can spread person-to-person in rare instances. The WHO assesses the global risk as low but considers the threat to those on the ship as moderate.