Hantavirus outbreak: MV Hondius departs Tenerife after passenger testing and evacuations
MV Hondius leaves Tenerife following a hantavirus outbreak; passengers were tested and repatriated while authorities monitor contacts and plan ship disinfection in Rotterdam.
The MV Hondius sailed out of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife on Monday evening after a delay prompted by a hantavirus outbreak aboard the expedition vessel. The departure followed a near two-day stop during which roughly 150 passengers were tested and most were allowed to disembark. Health officials say three people who travelled on the ship have died since it departed Argentina almost six weeks ago, and several others have fallen ill or tested positive.
Delayed departure from Tenerife port
With four blasts of the ship’s horn, the MV Hondius left the Canary Islands late on Monday after being held in port to manage a public health response. Local authorities gave the vessel extra time in Tenerife so medical teams could screen passengers and coordinate repatriation flights. Officials described the stop as a logistical pause to complete testing and safe transfer of passengers rather than a full quarantine.
Passenger testing and repatriation operations
More than 150 guests received medical checks while docked, and evacuations were carried out over the weekend, officials said. Spanish health authorities reported that the bulk of passengers were repatriated by air, with the final scheduled evacuation flights set to operate on Monday. Spain’s health minister, Mónica García, said one of the last flights was to transport 27 people home while another 27 individuals would remain aboard the vessel for operational or follow-up reasons.
Casualties and confirmed cases linked to voyage
The outbreak has had a tragic toll: three deaths have been associated with the voyage since it left Argentina nearly six weeks earlier, and at least seven additional people who travelled on the ship have either become unwell or tested positive. Health authorities have not released detailed demographic information about the deceased or all affected passengers, citing ongoing investigations and the need to inform next of kin. Officials emphasized that hantavirus infections, while rare, can cause severe respiratory illness and require careful clinical management.
Public health monitoring and international tracing
National and international health agencies mobilized to trace and monitor contacts of those aboard the expedition, and officials said they will continue observation for several weeks. Hantaviruses are carried by rodents, and human transmission is uncommon; nevertheless, health ministries are treating potential exposure seriously and coordinating cross-border notifications. Authorities plan to actively follow up with repatriated passengers and crew to detect any emerging symptoms and to provide guidance on testing and care.
Next movements for MV Hondius and decontamination plans
Oceanwide Expeditions, which operates the voyage, said the ship would take on necessary supplies after most guests and some crew had left the vessel in Tenerife. Spanish interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska indicated the Hondius was bound for Rotterdam, a journey expected to take about five days, where the ship will undergo disinfection procedures. Officials have signalled that the cleaning will follow national and international protocols intended to ensure the vessel is safe for future use and that any potential environmental or public health risks are mitigated.
Authorities in multiple countries have been contacted to identify anyone who may have been exposed during the expedition’s route through the southern Atlantic and upon departure from Argentina. Maritime and health officials are also reviewing voyage records to establish possible points of rodent contact or other sources of contamination on board.
Operator response and passenger support measures
Oceanwide Expeditions has stated it is cooperating with health and government authorities and assisting passengers with repatriation logistics and medical information. The company said it would support crew members who remain on board and those returning home, including facilitating follow-up testing where required. Travel insurers and consular services in affected countries have been notified to provide assistance to nationals who were aboard.
The current response reflects protocols for handling potential hantavirus exposure on maritime voyages, and officials stressed there is no indication of widespread transmission beyond those identified. Investigations into the precise source of the infections and any onboard environmental issues are ongoing, with a focus on preventing future occurrences on similar expedition cruises.
Health ministries have urged anyone who was on the MV Hondius or who may have had contact with disembarked passengers to monitor their health and seek medical attention if symptoms — particularly fever, muscle aches or respiratory problems — develop in the weeks following exposure. They reiterated that early medical assessment and testing are key for appropriate treatment and to limit the chances of severe illness.
Public and private agencies involved in the response said they would publish further updates as investigations progress and as repatriation and disinfection efforts conclude.