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The cruise ship where the hantavirus outbreak occurred will sail to the Canary Islands

2026-05-06 08:15:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The cruise ship where the hantavirus outbreak occurred will sail to the Canary

A Dutch cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak on board will sail to the Canary Islands, Spain's health ministry said.

Two crew members, including the ship's British doctor, require urgent medical attention and had to be evacuated by hospital plane to the Canary Islands on Tuesday. A third person related to a German national who died also had to be evacuated.

Officials were determining which passengers needed urgent evacuation from Cape Verde, where the ship was docked, the health ministry added.

Three passengers aboard the MV Hondius have died after it set off from Argentina to sail across the Atlantic Ocean about a month ago.

About 149 people from 23 countries remained on board under "strict precautionary measures," ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions said.

In addition to the British crew member, there are 22 other British citizens on board.

The remaining passengers will continue to the Canary Islands, where they are expected to arrive within three to four days, the health ministry said, adding that the exact port of arrival had not yet been determined.

Cruise ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions said its plan was to sail to "Gran Canaria or Tenerife."

It was said that the World Health Organization (WHO) had explained that Cape Verde "cannot carry out this operation".

"The Canary Islands are the closest country with the necessary capacities. Spain has a moral and legal obligation to help these people, among whom are some Spanish citizens," the statement added.

Upon arrival in the Canary Islands, the crew and passengers will be examined, given the necessary care and then be able to begin their journey home, Spain's health ministry said in a statement.

All interactions with those who had been on the MV Hondius would take place in "special spaces and transports specifically designed for this situation," the ministry said.

This is to help "avoid any contact with the local population and ensure the safety of healthcare personnel," she added./CNA, translated by BBC





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