Passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship, where a hantavirus outbreak occurred, began evacuating on Sunday after the vessel anchored off Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. Evacuations were expected to continue into Monday, with passengers already arriving in Paris and Madrid. Spanish nationals were the first to disembark, according to Spanish health authorities, and were placed under quarantine upon reaching Madrid.
British passengers and crew who landed in the UK on Sunday were taken to an isolation facility at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral, where they will be monitored for 72 hours, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. None of the 20 British evacuees had reported symptoms, but the monitoring period was implemented as a precaution. Two Indian nationals aboard the ship were evacuated to the Netherlands, the Indian Express reported.
Medical experts emphasized that the hantavirus outbreak should not trigger fears of another pandemic. “This is not COVID,” Ars Technica noted, explaining that hantavirus is not airborne and does not spread easily between people. A former Institut Pasteur chief told FRANCE 24, “Nothing like COVID,” urging calm and stating that the outbreak remained contained. Hantavirus is typically transmitted through contact with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, and human-to-human transmission is rare.
The ship, operated by a Dutch company, had been on a voyage in the Atlantic when the outbreak was detected. Authorities in Spain prepared to receive more than 140 passengers and crew members, with health officials coordinating the quarantine and transfer of individuals to facilities and airports. Passengers were transported by bus from the port to quarantine sites or flights home, with military and government planes used for some repatriations.
No right-leaning sources reported on this story. Coverage from left-leaning and center outlets focused on the evacuation logistics, public health measures, and expert reassurances that the risk to the general public is low. The Africa News center outlet detailed the Spanish preparations and the disembarkation process. The UK Independent noted the 72-hour isolation period for British returnees, while GB News, a right-leaning outlet, highlighted the urgency of the evacuation for Britons. All sources consistently reported that no symptoms had been detected among the evacuated passengers at the time of their arrival.
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