MV Hondius Hantavirus Evacuation Ends — WHO Praises Spain, New Cases Emerge in France and the US

The evacuation of passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius, which suffered a hantavirus outbreak, at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife is due to conclude by the end of today. There were 152 people on board from dozens of countries around the world. The ship arrived at port at 6:00 AM on 10 May after 40 days at sea, during which three people died from the virus. More than 300 journalists from 60 news organisations worldwide were waiting on shore.

Spain's Health Minister Mónica García described the operation as "unprecedented" and reported that the World Health Organization is holding Spain up as an example to other nations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres thanked Spain for its close cooperation with the WHO. In response, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasised that in times like these, coordination between countries and institutions is essential for protecting lives and upholding shared values. "Spain will stand on the side of solidarity, dignity, and international law," he added.

During the operation, 94 passengers were flown out of Tenerife on Sunday on flights to Spain, France, the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, and the United States. This afternoon, 22 more passengers will depart for the Netherlands. After that, around 30 crew members will remain on board and sail to the Netherlands, departing before 7:00 PM local time. The operation was also marked by tragedy: a 62-year-old Civil Guard officer died of a heart attack at the port while on duty. Medical staff attempted to save him for 40 minutes.

Spain's 14 nationals — 13 passengers and one crew member — flew to the military base at Torrejón de Ardoz and were transferred to the Gómez Ulla hospital in Madrid. State Secretary for Health Javier Padilla explained that the quarantine period for the evacuated Spaniards began on 6 May — the date on which, according to international specialists, measures were implemented on board that halted the spread of the virus. The quarantine will last 42 days, until 17 June. The first week will be spent in strict hospital isolation, after which doctors will assess each patient every week. If tests return negative, some may be able to continue their quarantine at home. All 14 individuals are currently in good health.

France's Health Minister Stéphanie Rist reported that one of the five French passengers who returned home has tested positive. Her condition deteriorated overnight, and she has been hospitalised at a specialist infectious diseases clinic. The other four French passengers are healthy but remain in isolation. French authorities have also identified 22 people who may have been in contact with those infected.

The United States has reported two concerning cases. One American returned a weakly positive test result — though by Spanish standards, such a result is considered inconclusive. US authorities decided to treat it as positive. The second case involves a woman with a cough and throat irritation but no definitive symptoms. Both individuals have been referred to a medical centre in Nebraska.

The 22 British passengers have been hospitalised at Arrowe Park Hospital. All are in good health and will be assessed over 72 hours, after which doctors will decide whether they need to remain in hospital or can isolate at home for 45 days.

In Alicante, a woman who travelled on the same flight as one of the passengers who died on the cruise has tested negative twice and continues to be monitored at the hospital.