A cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak is sailing towards Spain's Canary Islands after several passengers were evacuated for treatment, triggering an international health response involving multiple countries.
The Dutch-flagged Hondius departed Cape Verde on Wednesday evening and is expected to reach Tenerife within the next few days, according to its operator, Oceanwide Expeditions BV, per a Money Control report.
Also Read | Hantavirus scare on cruise ship: Death toll rises as WHO begins global contact tracing
Two evacuees have already arrived in the Netherlands for medical care, while a third evacuation flight has reportedly been delayed. Three additional medical professionals have also boarded the ship to assist during the journey.
WHO monitoring outbreak linked to cruise
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified eight medical cases connected to the outbreak, including five suspected and three laboratory-confirmed infections. Three deaths have also been reported so far.
Passengers, crew members and expedition staff from 23 countries remain onboard the vessel.
Spanish Health Minister Monica GarcÃa said the ship is expected to dock at Granadilla de Abona port in Tenerife on Saturday.
"All passengers and crew who remain on the ship as of today are asymptomatic," GarcÃa was quoted as saying by Money Control.
She added, "Unless a medical condition prevents it, all foreign passengers will be repatriated," under a protocol coordinated by the European Commission with support from the WHO.
The 13 Spanish passengers and one crew member are expected to be moved to a military hospital in Madrid for quarantine.
Swiss authorities have confirmed a case of #hantavirus identified in a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship.
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 6, 2026
He had responded to an email from the ship’s operator informing the passengers of the health event, and presented himself to a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, and… pic.twitter.com/4mmBd7qSA4
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rare infection usually spread through contact with infected rodent droppings or contaminated dust particles. Symptoms may take weeks to appear and severe cases can lead to respiratory failure.
Health authorities said the first patient, a Dutch man, had travelled in South America with his wife before boarding the ship in Argentina on April 1. Both later died.
Investigators tracking possible transmission
A patient in Switzerland is currently being treated after testing positive for the Andes variant of the virus, which has been associated with rare human-to-human transmission.
Also Read | What went wrong aboard the MV Hondius? Inside the deadly hantavirus outbreak
Meanwhile, South African authorities said 62 people connected to the outbreak have been identified for monitoring and tracing.
Swiss officials said the public health risk remains low and described "the occurrence of further cases in Switzerland unlikely".
Investigators are continuing efforts to determine whether infections occurred before passengers boarded the ship or through limited transmission onboard.
