Hantavirus-Infected Cruise Ship Arrives in Spain

The luxury cruise ship M/V Hondius, currently affected by hantavirus, has docked in the Canary Islands, off the northwest coast of Africa. The Dutch-flagged vessel reached Granadilla port in Tenerife shortly before 6:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, carrying 147 passengers, which included 17 Americans, according to the cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions.

Passengers will be disembarking in groups, arranged by nationality, for their flights back to their home countries.

The cruise line mentioned, “Following the WHO outline and in cooperation with several international organizations and governments, guests will be transported by air to their respective countries, where they will undergo quarantine procedures. Procedures will be determined by national authorities, and quarantine for non-Spaniards will not occur in Spain.”

Reports indicate that many passengers have already left the ship and boarded special flights arranged by their governments.

American passengers will be evacuated via a medical flight to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, where they will then be taken to the National Quarantine Center, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Since the ship set sail in early April, three passengers, which included a Dutch couple and a German individual, have died, while several others contracted the virus. However, it was not until May 2 that any confirmed outbreaks were reported.

By that point, some passengers had already disembarked, including various Americans who have since returned home. Fortunately, no cases have been reported in the United States as of now.

Hantavirus typically spreads through contact with mouse droppings, urine, or saliva and can be severe. The Andes variant is known to cause infections in humans and is believed to be responsible for this outbreak.

While the cruise line claims that no one aboard has displayed symptoms, the CDC warns that symptoms can take anywhere from 4 to 42 days to appear after exposure.

Health officials maintain that the risk to the general population remains minimal.

The CDC shared on X, “At this time, the risk to public health in the United States is considered to be extremely low.”

After passengers disembark, the ship will transport the remaining crew members and the body of one deceased individual back to Rotterdam, Netherlands, with an estimated travel time of five days.