Spain's government, in coordination with the WHO, has approved the MV Hondius cruise ship—stranded off Cape Verde amid a hantavirus outbreak that killed three—to dock in the Canary Islands within three or four days. Three passengers, including a gravely ill doctor, will be airlifted first for treatment.
Spain's Ministry of Health announced Tuesday that, following epidemiological review, the MV Hondius—with 147 people aboard—will arrive in the Canary Islands, though the exact port remains undecided. A WHO-ECDC safety protocol will prevent contact with locals during docking.
Cape Verde lacked capacity for the operation, making the Canary Islands the nearest suitable location. "Spain has a moral and legal obligation to help, including several Spanish nationals on board," the ministry stated. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in a letter to prioritize humanitarian needs, reduce psychological strain, and facilitate disinfection.
Spain also accepted a Dutch request to evacuate the ship's critically ill doctor via hospital plane to the Canary Islands today. Initial plans targeted the Netherlands and Germany, but this shifted. Of 14 Spaniards aboard, five are Catalans (all well), plus individuals from Madrid, Valencia, and Galicia.
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo initially opposed, favoring Cape Verde handling, but Madrid overruled. The outbreak has affected seven (three deaths, one critical, three mild), with symptoms since April 6, likely from South America—building on prior deaths and confirmations reported earlier.
