Passengers aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship struck by a hantavirus outbreak, began their evacuation on May 10, 2026. They are now flying home to over 20 countries for health monitoring.
The ship, anchored in the Canary Islands, saw its last remaining passengers disembark on Monday. A French woman was confirmed as infected, while an American is suspected of having the virus.
Passengers were escorted from the ship to the airport in Tenerife by personnel in protective gear. This evacuation process ended Monday, as travelers prepared for quarantine.
If they stayed longer on the ship, the situation could have been difficult. Citizens should know there is nothing to fear, the risk is low, this is not another COVID.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
According to the WHO, three cruise ship passengers have died, and six others are under quarantine due to confirmed or suspected hantavirus cases. The American passenger's initial test results were inconclusive.
This incident marks the first-ever hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. While there is no known cure or vaccine for hantavirus, early detection can improve survival rates.
In a video message, the ship's captain, Jan Dobrogowski, expressed pride in the passengers and crew for their resilience and requested respect for their privacy.
The French woman in intensive care is reportedly stable, while four other French passengers who returned tested negative but remain in isolation. In the U.S., one of the evacuees tested positive but has no symptoms.
Sixteen American passengers were taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for monitoring, while another couple was sent to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
U.S. health officials have faced criticism for their response to the outbreak, with Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asserting that the situation is under control.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the cruise line operator, stated that 25 crew members and two medical professionals remained onboard as the ship departed for Rotterdam.
Health experts have noted that while hantavirus typically spreads through rodent droppings, the Andes virus detected could potentially spread between humans in rare cases.
The WHO recommends that returning passengers undergo a 42-day quarantine as a precaution, advising countries to implement monitoring protocols.