Spain Allows Cruise Ship With Hantavirus Cases to Dock in Tenerife After Medical Evacuations
The MV Hondius will reach Granadilla on Tenerife within three days after three passenger deaths and at least five suspected cases. Spain's health minister announced the arrival on Wednesday even as the Canary Islands leader cited public safety risks. Three seriously ill people will be airlifted to the Netherlands before the vessel proceeds.
rte.ie (News photo)Spain's health minister announced Wednesday that the MV Hondius will dock within three days at Granadilla on the island of Tenerife. The decision came despite opposition from the Canary Islands regional government, which cited risks to public safety. The vessel departed Cape Verde earlier and carries close to 150 passengers and crew.
Preparations are underway to evacuate three people from the ship by air to the Netherlands. Two of them are seriously ill. The third was in close contact with a passenger who died of hantavirus. The ship will continue to the Canary Islands after the evacuations.
Three people have died and four others have fallen ill aboard the MV Hondius, one of them critically. The total number of suspected hantavirus cases has risen to five, though only two have been confirmed by laboratory testing. The ship departed from Argentina on a 35-day luxury cruise several weeks ago and was anchored off the coast of Cabo Verde before heading north.
Officials have determined that the virus spread from person to person on board. Contact tracing has begun. A new case involving a French man who was not on the cruise has raised concerns about possible wider exposure on land and in the air.
The Canary Islands' leader stated that the threat to the local population is very real and opposed the docking plan. Spanish authorities have said there is no significant risk to the broader community. The working assumption is that the hantavirus is the Andes virus, Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director of epidemic and pandemic management at the World Health Organization, stated.
Researchers are sequencing samples to confirm the strain. The vessel had roughly 150 passengers and crew when health officials first contacted the WHO over the weekend to report the cluster. Oceanwide Expeditions, the company operating the cruise, has said it is cooperating with authorities and upholding health and safety procedures.
Passengers remain in quarantine while the ship proceeds to its destination.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
5 events- Several weeks ago
MV Hondius departed Argentina on 35-day luxury cruise with roughly 150 passengers and crew.
2 sourcesThe Atlantic · CBS News - Over the weekend
Health officials contacted WHO to report cluster of serious illnesses aboard the ship.
1 sourceThe Atlantic - Recent days
Ship anchored off coast of Cabo Verde; three deaths and four illnesses confirmed.
3 sourcesThe Atlantic · Associated Press · France24 - Wednesday
Spain's health minister announced docking at Granadilla on Tenerife within three days despite Canary Islands opposition.
2 sourcesAFP · BBC - Current
Ship departed Cape Verde and heads toward Canary Islands; evacuations of three people to Netherlands planned.
4 sourcesAssociated Press · France24 · Financial Times · BBC
Potential Impact
- 01
Spain will repatriate approximately 150 passengers and crew from the vessel.
- 02
Three seriously ill individuals will receive treatment in the Netherlands.
- 03
Contact tracing has begun for cases linked to the ship, including a French man not on the original cruise.
- 04
Canary Islands regional government opposes docking over public safety concerns.
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