A hantavirus outbreak aboard cruise ship Hondius led Spanish authorities to evacuate 94 passengers and crew near the Canary Islands.
MADRID: Spanish authorities have evacuated 94 passengers and crew members from the cruise ship Hondius after a hantavirus outbreak raised serious health concerns near the Canary Islands. The evacuation operation was confirmed by Spanish Health Minister Mónica García on Sunday as emergency teams coordinated international transport for affected travellers.
According to officials, the passengers and crew came from 19 different countries and were flown out of the Canary Islands aboard eight private aircraft. Authorities said the response was organised to prevent further spread of the infection and to ensure those affected received immediate medical observation and care.
The hantavirus outbreak prompted heightened monitoring from Spanish health authorities after several individuals aboard the vessel reportedly developed symptoms linked to the rare but potentially deadly virus. Medical teams and emergency workers were deployed to supervise passenger transfers and health screenings during the operation.
Spanish officials confirmed that additional evacuation flights are expected to continue on Monday. One aircraft arriving from the Netherlands is scheduled to transport six passengers, while another flight from Australia will carry 18 affected individuals connected to the hantavirus outbreak. Authorities have not yet disclosed the full condition of all passengers but stated that precautionary protocols remain active.
Hantavirus is a rare viral disease commonly linked to exposure to infected rodents and can cause severe respiratory illness in humans. Public health agencies continue to monitor the situation closely as investigations examine how the outbreak emerged aboard the expedition cruise vessel.
The incident has drawn international attention because of the multinational group of passengers involved and the scale of the evacuation effort coordinated between Spanish authorities and foreign governments.
