Evacuations begin from cruise ship amid hantavirus outbreak
The first day of evacuations from the cruise ship MV Hondius, at the heart of a hantavirus outbreak, has concluded with 94 passengers of 19 nationalities successfully evacuated, reports BritPanorama.
The vessel arrived at the Spanish island of Tenerife earlier on Sunday with 147 individuals on board. Passengers were seen being ferried to shore in small boats from the ship, which was anchored at the Port of Granadilla.
Health Minister Mónica García of Spain stated that the evacuation operation, coordinated with multiple nations, was executed “according to plan.” Following disembarkation, passengers were transferred to waiting buses for transportation to the airport, from where they will return to their home countries.
Prior to their departure, medical teams boarded the MV Hondius to conduct health assessments on passengers and crew, García confirmed shortly before 8 a.m. local time.
Since leaving Argentina last month, three deaths have been linked to the hantavirus, typically transmitted through exposure to contaminated rodent excretions, while others have required medical attention on board.
Experts have attempted to alleviate concerns regarding a potential pandemic, with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declaring that the virus poses low risk to the public. An official from the US Department of Health emphasized that the risk to American citizens remains “extremely low.”
Local authorities indicated that the ship anchored at “the safest” distance from the dock, and passengers were brought ashore in small groups, limited to ten per boat, as per the tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions.
The evacuation efforts involved various nations, including the US, Spain, Canada, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands, using aircraft to repatriate their citizens.
Spain’s health ministry noted that flights for remaining passengers destined for Australia and the Netherlands are scheduled for Monday. Subsequently, the MV Hondius is set to sail to Rotterdam with remaining crew members, where it will undergo disinfection.
As a coordinated approach, Oceanwide confirmed that passengers’ luggage would remain on the ship, to be returned later, with disembarking procedures synchronized with repatriation flight schedules.
A CDC official informed that the 18 passengers heading to the United States, which includes a British national residing there, will be taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Notably, none of those traveling to the US are reported to have symptoms.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed that one of the five French nationals evacuated from Tenerife exhibited symptoms during their return flight, leading to their immediate isolation upon arrival in France for further evaluation.
Meanwhile, a plane transporting 14 Spanish passengers from the MV Hondius landed at Torrejon de Ardoz military airport near Madrid, where they will be monitored and undergo PCR testing during their stay in individual hospital rooms.
The arrival of the cruise ship has heightened tensions in the Canary Islands, with regional leader Fernando Clavijo expressing opposition to the vessel docking in the area. Port workers have also protested, raising concerns over communication regarding potential health risks related to the outbreak.
While the hantavirus outbreak was first reported to the WHO on May 2, the organisation maintains that the overall risk to the general public remains low. CNN has reached out to relevant authorities for comment on the situation.
The developments surrounding the MV Hondius illustrate the ongoing complexities faced in managing public health risks within international travel contexts.
