10.05.2026 13:01
The passenger ship MV Hondius, where three people died from hantavirus, anchored at the Port of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The Spanish Ministry of Health announced that the first evacuations from the ship have begun. Three Turkish nationals on board will be brought to Turkey and placed in quarantine.
The passenger ship "MV Hondius," flagged in the Netherlands, where hantavirus cases were detected, arrived at the Port of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife, Canary Islands, located in southeastern Spain.
EVACUATIONS BEGAN
The MV Hondius, which entered the port but was not allowed to dock, anchored at the port entrance.
First, doctors wearing white gowns, caps, and FFP2 type masks, assigned by the Spanish Ministry of Health due to the risk of possible contamination, boarded the ship.
FIRST, 14 SPANISH PASSENGERS WERE DISEMBARKED
After the passengers and crew underwent health checks, the first to disembark were 14 Spanish passengers and an epidemiology expert working for the World Health Organization (WHO) who boarded the ship in Cabo Verde.
Since the MV Hondius was not docked, 15 people were taken off the ship in groups via a boat belonging to the Port Authority and brought ashore.
It was stated that passengers, who were dressed in protective suits against the risk of possible virus transmission, were only allowed to take a small suitcase.
It was noted that the 15 people, whose passport procedures would be completed on land, would later be taken to the airport by a bus belonging to the Military Emergency Response (UCM) unit.
It was reported that these 15 individuals, who have been asymptomatic in tests conducted so far regarding hantavirus, would be taken from Tenerife to Madrid on a Spanish state aircraft and quarantined at the Gomez Ulla Military Hospital.
Officials speaking to the Spanish press stated that it is not yet clear how many days the 15 people, who have already been quarantined on the ship for some time, will be kept in quarantine at the hospital; that there will be a one-week observation period initially; and that if anyone shows symptoms, they will be taken to a special unit.
"EVERYONE ON THE SHIP IS ASYMPTOMATIC"
Meanwhile, Health Minister Monica Garcia, who was in Tenerife, stated that everyone on the ship is asymptomatic.
Minister Garcia noted that flights would depart to the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, England, the USA, Greece, France, and Turkey (for the 3 Turkish citizens on board) to send the passengers and crew to their countries, and announced that the last flight is scheduled to depart for Australia tomorrow morning.
After the evacuations are completed, the ship is expected to leave Tenerife with a crew group and head towards the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
It was shared that in case of problems sending the nearly 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries on board to their countries, two planes sent by the European Union (EU) and an ambulance plane from Norway are being kept on standby at Tenerife airport for any eventuality.
Spanish government officials had stated that each transfer from the port to the airport is expected to take about ten minutes, that passengers would not be taken off the ship until the planes were ready, and that there would be no contact with the civilian population.
On board the ship, there are a total of 147 people: 38 from the Philippines (all crew), 23 from England, 17 from the USA, 14 from Spain, 11 from the Netherlands, 8 from Germany, 5 each from France and Ukraine, 4 each from Canada and Australia, 3 from Turkey, 2 each from India, Belgium, and Ireland, and one each from Greece, Poland, Portugal, Montenegro, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Argentina, and Guatemala.
Spanish government officials had stated that each transfer from the port to the airport is expected to take about 10 minutes, that passengers would not be taken off the ship until the planes were ready, and that there would be no contact with the civilian population.
TURKISH CITIZENS TO BE BROUGHT HOME
The Ministry of Health announced that the 3 Turkish citizens on the ship would be brought to Turkey. In a statement from the Ministry, it was stated that the health status of the citizens is being closely monitored, and said, "It has been reported that our citizens have no symptoms or signs of illness."
In the statement from the Ministry, it was said, "Our 3 citizens, who are on an international cruise ship and whose health conditions are being closely monitored, will be brought to our country tomorrow. In the follow-up process conducted in coordination with relevant international authorities, it has been reported that our citizens have no symptoms or signs of illness. From the moment they arrive in our country, they will be quarantined, and their health processes will be meticulously carried out by our Ministry."
HANTAVIRUS CASES ON THE SHIP
The Dutch-flagged luxury passenger ship MV Hondius departed from the Port of Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1.
A 70-year-old Dutch person died on the ship on April 11, and it was noted that with 6 more passengers boarding the ship during visits to Tristan da Cunha, Inaccessible Island, and Nightingale Island in western Africa between April 13-16, there were a total of 180 passengers and crew according to records from those dates.
When the ship arrived in Santa Elena, about 30 passengers disembarked there, and the body of the deceased passenger along with the Dutch spouse showing symptoms were also evacuated from the ship.
The Dutch woman, who went to Johannesburg, died on April 26.
A male passenger who was a British citizen and showing symptoms, along with his American friend, was also taken off the ship on April 27.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on May 2 that hantavirus cases were seen on board the MV Hondius while it was in Cabo Verde, and with the death of a German female passenger on May 3, the number of people who traveled on this ship and died from the virus rose to 3.
After authorities in Cabo Verde did not allow the ship to dock or any person to disembark, following discussions between the WHO and Spain, it was decided on May 5 to bring the MV Hondius to Tenerife for the disembarkation of passengers.
ABOUT HANTAVIRUS
Hantavirus is known to be mostly transmitted from rodents.
The virus, which is transmitted by inhaling air mixed with dried feces, urine, and saliva of rodents, and sometimes by being bitten or scratched by a rodent, shows symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and muscle pain.
The virus, which can also cause respiratory failure, in some cases leads to internal bleeding and kidney failure.