The World Health Organization’s director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, assures Tenerife residents of a low infection risk as the MV Hondius cruise ship—site of a hantavirus outbreak—approaches the Canary Island’s Granadilla port in the early hours of Sunday.
Direct Reassurance to Locals
Tedros emphasizes that the situation differs from the Covid-19 pandemic, with no symptomatic passengers currently on board. “I know you are worried,” he states in a message to island residents. “When you hear ‘outbreak’ and see a ship heading to your shores, memories of 2020 resurface. But this is not another Covid. The public health risk from hantavirus remains low.”
A WHO expert, Dr. Freddy Banza-Mutoka, works alongside two Dutch physicians on the vessel to assess medical conditions and exposures. Current evaluations show no additional symptoms among passengers or crew.
Outbreak Details and Symptoms
Officials confirm six hantavirus cases among passengers, including three deaths during the voyage from South America. The Andes strain, transmissible between humans and linked to rodent exposure, likely originated from stops in the region. Symptoms include fever, severe fatigue, muscle aches, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and breathing difficulties.
The first death occurred on April 11, followed by another on May 2. A 69-year-old Dutch woman who disembarked in St. Helena on April 24 died in South Africa two days later. Two British men with confirmed cases receive treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa, while a third Briton undergoes care for a suspected infection on Tristan da Cunha.
Investigators trace early cases to a bird-watching trip through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, where virus-carrying rats were present. The full scope of infections remains under review.
Strict Containment Protocols
Spanish Health Minister Mónica García outlines rigorous precautions. The ship anchors between 04:00 and 06:00 GMT Sunday. Passengers stay aboard until repatriation flights are ready, transferring via smaller boats.
All disembarking individuals and support staff, including bus drivers, wear FFP2 masks. Spaniards exit first, grouped by nationality, carrying only sealed bags with essentials like documents, phones, chargers, and personal items. One deceased passenger’s body stays on board for transport to the Netherlands for disinfection.
Tedros praises Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for hosting the ship, citing Tenerife’s medical infrastructure and humanitarian capacity. Regional President Fernando Clavijo had suggested Cape Verde as an alternative stop.
Repatriation Flights Organized
Flights return passengers to the UK, US, France, Germany, Belgium, and Ireland. The EU dispatches two additional planes for European nationals. After operations, the MV Hondius proceeds to the Netherlands.
