The Spanish government has confirmed that the MV Hondius cruise ship, carrying a hantavirus outbreak, will dock in Tenerife within three days. The decision follows a formal request from the World Health Organization. Foreign passengers will be repatriated and the 14 Spaniards will quarantine in Madrid.
The vessel, carrying about 150 passengers and crew from 23 nationalities, left Cape Verde on May 6 after being denied port entry. It sails toward the secondary port of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife, where it will arrive in three days and 12 hours. Health authorities have confirmed that all those remaining on board are asymptomatic.
Health Minister Mónica García explained that Spain is complying with the International Health Regulations and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Foreigners will be repatriated to their home countries, while Spaniards will be voluntarily flown in a military aircraft to the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid for a quarantine of at least 45 days.
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo has criticized the lack of prior information and warned that the islands lack protocols and sufficient beds to handle potential cases. The central government has responded that it maintains permanent contact with Canary authorities and that there is no risk to the local population.
According to the WHO, the outbreak totals eight linked cases, with three confirmed deaths. The identified strain is the Andes variant, native to South America. The main hypothesis suggests the initial infection occurred before boarding in Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1.
