11.05.2026 17:20
Turkish citizens on the "MV Hondius" passenger ship, where hantavirus cases were detected, were quarantined upon their return to Istanbul. The Ministry of Health stated regarding the samples taken from the 3 Turkish passengers, "The results have been determined to be negative; they will be kept in quarantine for the recommended period."
Passengers on the 'MV Hondius' ship, which anchored off the Canary Islands in southeastern Spain and where hantavirus cases were detected, have been sent to their countries. The latest update on the health status of Turkish passengers has been shared.
"NO CLINICAL SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS IN 5 PEOPLE"
In a statement from the Ministry of Health, "The last 3 of our citizens on an international cruise ship were brought to our country by ambulance aircraft, and close monitoring and isolation processes have begun. As with the 2 individuals who previously entered the country, necessary samples were taken from these individuals as well. Their results have been found to be negative; they will be kept in quarantine for the recommended period. During the monitoring conducted so far, no clinical signs or symptoms have been observed in 5 individuals."
ONLY 32 CREW MEMBERS REMAIN ON BOARD
Spain's Health Minister Monica Garcia reported that only 32 crew members remain on the ship from which passengers were evacuated. Speaking to the press, Garcia noted that the MV Hondius, which refueled throughout the day, would depart from Tenerife in the evening with the remaining crew.
Minister Garcia also stated, "After the ship departs and the plane takes off, we will begin disinfecting the port as per protocol. This process will be carried out by experts in the field."
NEARLY 120 PEOPLE EVACUATED
Nearly 120 people from 23 countries traveling on the MV Hondius, which had been anchored offshore at the port entrance for two days without docking, were evacuated. All military and civilian personnel involved in the evacuation operation, as well as passengers, were given protective suits to prevent the risk of virus transmission.
HANTAVIRUS CASES ON THE SHIP
The Dutch-flagged luxury passenger ship MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia Port in Argentina on April 1.
On April 11, a 70-year-old Dutch passenger died on the ship. During visits to Tristan da Cunha, Inaccessible Island, and Nightingale Island in West Africa between April 13 and 16, 6 more passengers boarded the ship, bringing the total to 180 passengers and crew according to records from that period.
Upon arriving in Santa Elena, about 30 passengers, along with the body of the deceased passenger and his symptomatic Dutch wife, disembarked.
The Dutch woman, who went to Johannesburg, died on April 26.
A symptomatic British male passenger also disembarked on April 27 with his American friend.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on May 2 that hantavirus cases were detected on the MV Hondius while it was in Cabo Verde (Cape Verde), and on May 3, a German female passenger died, bringing the number of deaths from the virus on this ship to 3.
After Capo Verde authorities refused to allow the ship to dock or any person to disembark, following negotiations between the WHO and Spain, it was decided on May 5 to bring the MV Hondius to Tenerife to allow passengers to disembark.
Among the passengers evacuated from Tenerife, one French and one American citizen tested positive for hantavirus after returning to their countries.
WHAT IS HANTAVIRUS?
Hantavirus is known as a disease primarily transmitted from rodents.
The virus, which is transmitted by inhaling air mixed with dried feces, urine, and saliva of rodents, or 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, sometimes progresses with internal bleeding and kidney failure.