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Rachel V Thomas

Hantavirus Outbreak: How MV Hondius Passengers Will Be Screened And Evacuated

The <span>MV Hondius</span> cruise ship, hit by an outbreak of <span>hantavirus</span>, is expected to reach the <span>Canary Islands</span> on May 10.

The vessel is set to dock near Tenerife, where residents have voiced concerns that its arrival could pose a potential health risk.

The Spanish government, in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), has agreed to allow passengers to disembark in the Canary Islands this weekend. The ship had travelled from Cape Verde, where three people were evacuated earlier due to illness.

According to the WHO, none of the passengers currently on board are showing symptoms of hantavirus.

<h2>Spain Issues Quarantine Measures</h2>

Despite the absence of symptoms among current passengers, Spain’s Health Ministry has announced strict quarantine protocols.

“All people considered contacts — those who remained on the ship between April 1 and May 10, or were in contact with a confirmed case — must undergo mandatory quarantine at the Central Hospital of the Gómez Ulla Defense in Madrid,” the ministry said.

Passengers will remain in individual rooms with no visitors allowed.

“During this period, they will undergo a PCR test upon arrival and another seven days later,” the ministry added.

Authorities will also carry out active surveillance, including twice-daily temperature checks to identify symptoms early.

If a laboratory test is positive by the National Microbiology Center, the patient will become a confirmed case and will be admitted to a High Level Isolation and Treatment Unit (UATAN) until clinical recovery.

<h2>WHO, CDC, ECDC Teams Monitoring Arrivals</h2>

According to media reports, more than 90 people from 23 nationalities remain aboard the Dutch-flagged MV <em>Hondius</em>. This includes: 38 Filipinos, 23 Britons, 17 Americans, 2 Indians and 14 Spaniards.

The 14 Spanish passengers will be transferred to Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid, where they will undergo a 45-day quarantine. Crew members from other countries will be repatriated to their respective nations.

WHO said it has developed and shared technical guidance documents in support of countries affected by the event, including covering management of the event on the ship, investigation of cases, disembarkation and management of returning passengers and crew members.

In its latest briefing, the UN health body said emergency response teams, including experts from the Netherlands and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), are coordinating efforts to manage the situation and assess all passengers and crew upon arrival.

A WHO official is currently on board alongside two Dutch healthcare workers and an ECDC expert.

WHO Technical Officer Anais Legand said health teams will review the exposure history of every passenger and crew member to determine who may face a higher risk of infection.

Passengers will also be screened for symptoms such as fever, fatigue, or signs of illness.

The <span>US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</span> (CDC) said it plans to evacuate American passengers aboard the ship on a US government medical repatriation flight to Omaha, Nebraska.

The WHO confirmed that six cases have tested positive for Andes virus, which can spread from person to person, through PCR testing.

The ship had 147 passengers and crew members on board when the outbreak was first reported on May 2, while another 34 people had already left the vessel.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/hantavirus-updates-of-the-day-8-may-2026-2-indians-among-crew-on-mv-hondius-cruise-ship-article-154275643" data-type="tilCustomLink">Hantavirus: Israel Confirms 1st Case as UK, Spain Probe Suspected Infections; Should You Be Worried?</a>

Four patients remain hospitalized in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. A suspected case transferred to Germany later tested negative.

Health authorities said contact tracing efforts will focus on identifying and assessing everyone who may have been exposed on board, particularly those who had close contact with confirmed or suspected cases.

Officials are evaluating several factors, including the incubation period, infectious stage of the virus, and overall risk profiles.

“You want to understand whether this person might be more likely to be sick,” Legand explained. Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine available for hantavirus.

<strong>Read More: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/who-says-6-week-hantavirus-incubation-raises-concern-but-no-epidemic-risk-article-154269945" data-type="tilCustomLink">WHO Says 6-Week Hantavirus Incubation Raises Concern, But No Epidemic Risk</a>

Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or exposure to their urine, droppings, and saliva, though rare cases of person-to-person transmission have also been reported.

While hantavirus carries a mortality rate of up to 40 percent, the WHO stated that the overall global risk remains low.

According to the CDC, symptoms can appear one to eight weeks after exposure, initially presenting fatigue, fever, and muscle aches. As the disease progresses, it can cause coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness as fluid accumulates in the lungs.

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The MV Hondius cruise ship, hit by an outbreak of hantavirus, is expected to reach the Canary Islands on May 10.The vessel is set to dock near Tenerife, where residents have voiced concerns that its arrival could pose a potential health risk.The Spanish government, in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), has agreed to allow passengers to disembark in the Canary Islands this weekend. The ship had travelled from Cape Verde, where three people were evacuated earlier due to illness.According to the WHO, none of the passengers currently on board are showing symptoms of hantavirus.Spain Issues Quarantine MeasuresDespite the absence of symptoms among current passengers, Spain’s Health Ministry has announced strict quarantine protocols.“All people considered contacts — those who remained on the ship between April 1 and May 10, or were in contact with a confirmed case — must undergo mandatory quarantine at the Central Hospital of the Gómez Ulla Defense in Madrid,” the ministry said.Passengers will remain in individual rooms with no visitors allowed.“During this period, they will undergo a PCR test upon arrival and another seven days later,” the ministry added.Authorities will also carry out active surveillance, including twice-daily temperature checks to identify symptoms early.If a laboratory test is positive by the National Microbiology Center, the patient will become a confirmed case and will be admitted to a High Level Isolation and Treatment Unit (UATAN) until clinical recovery.  Spain: Hantavirus quarantine measures published&quot;All people considered contacts—those who remained on the ship between April 1 and May 10, or were in contact with a confirmed case— they must undergo mandatory quarantine at the Central Hospital of the Gómez Ulla Defense, in…&mdash; CoronaHeadsUp (@CoronaHeadsUp) May 8, 2026 ]]>WHO, CDC, ECDC Teams Monitoring ArrivalsAccording to media reports, more than 90 people from 23 nationalities remain aboard the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius. This includes: 38 Filipinos, 23 Britons, 17 Americans, 2 Indians and 14 Spaniards.The 14 Spanish passengers will be transferred to Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid, where they will undergo a 45-day quarantine. Crew members from other countries will be repatriated to their respective nations.WHO said it has developed and shared technical guidance documents in support of countries affected by the event, including covering management of the event on the ship, investigation of cases, disembarkation and management of returning passengers and crew members.In its latest briefing, the UN health body said emergency response teams, including experts from the Netherlands and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), are coordinating efforts to manage the situation and assess all passengers and crew upon arrival.A WHO official is currently on board alongside two Dutch healthcare workers and an ECDC expert.WHO Technical Officer Anais Legand said health teams will review the exposure history of every passenger and crew member to determine who may face a higher risk of infection.  LIVE: Update on #hantavirus https://t.co/4l83MlUc82&mdash; World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 8, 2026 ]]>Passengers will also be screened for symptoms such as fever, fatigue, or signs of illness.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it plans to evacuate American passengers aboard the ship on a US government medical repatriation flight to Omaha, Nebraska.Confirmed Andes Virus CasesThe WHO confirmed that six cases have tested positive for Andes virus, which can spread from person to person, through PCR testing.The ship had 147 passengers and crew members on board when the outbreak was first reported on May 2, while another 34 people had already left the vessel.Also read: Hantavirus: Israel Confirms 1st Case as UK, Spain Probe Suspected Infections; Should You Be Worried?Four patients remain hospitalized in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. A suspected case transferred to Germany later tested negative.Contact Tracing UnderwayHealth authorities said contact tracing efforts will focus on identifying and assessing everyone who may have been exposed on board, particularly those who had close contact with confirmed or suspected cases.Officials are evaluating several factors, including the incubation period, infectious stage of the virus, and overall risk profiles.“You want to understand whether this person might be more likely to be sick,” Legand explained. Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine available for hantavirus.What Is Hantavirus?Read More: WHO Says 6-Week Hantavirus Incubation Raises Concern, But No Epidemic RiskHantavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or exposure to their urine, droppings, and saliva, though rare cases of person-to-person transmission have also been reported.While hantavirus carries a mortality rate of up to 40 percent, the WHO stated that the overall global risk remains low.According to the CDC, symptoms can appear one to eight weeks after exposure, initially presenting fatigue, fever, and muscle aches. As the disease progresses, it can cause coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness as fluid accumulates in the lungs.

hantavirus outbreak: how mv hondius passengers will be screened and evacuated

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Hantavirus Outbreak: How MV Hondius Passengers Will Be Screened And Evacuated

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