Madrid, May 12, 2026 – The Europe Today: Spanish authorities on Monday said that all necessary preventive measures had been implemented to stop the spread of hantavirus among passengers evacuated from a cruise ship linked to a deadly outbreak, after French and US nationals later tested positive for the disease.
A large-scale repatriation operation was conducted from the Canary Islands on Sunday involving 94 passengers and crew members from 19 countries aboard the Dutch-registered cruise vessel MV Hondius. The ship triggered an international health alert after three passengers reportedly died from the virus.
Passengers were transported under strict medical supervision from the vessel to Tenerife airport, where extensive health and sanitary checks were carried out prior to departure flights.
Despite these precautions, authorities in France and the United States later confirmed that one evacuee from each country had tested positive for hantavirus.
In an official statement, the Spanish Health Ministry stressed that from the beginning of the operation, “all measures adopted have aimed at cutting the possible chains of transmission,” adding that comprehensive prevention and control protocols had been fully enforced.
According to the ministry, the French passenger began feeling unwell during the flight and had shown no symptoms while onboard the ship. Spanish officials also stated that the US passenger did not display symptoms during the vessel’s stop in Cape Verde before reaching the Canary Islands.
“However, the US authorities decided to treat the case as positive and requested a separate evacuation, which was carried out using a separate boat,” the ministry added.
Spanish authorities were expected to conclude the evacuation process on Monday with two additional repatriation flights heading to Australia and the Netherlands, covering most of the ship’s approximately 150 passengers and crew members.
Following refuelling, the MV Hondius is scheduled to depart for the Netherlands with only a reduced crew remaining onboard.
Spanish Minister Ángel Víctor Torres told public broadcaster RNE that several Dutch and Australian citizens were still awaiting evacuation, expressing hope that the operation would conclude ahead of schedule.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease typically transmitted through rodents. Currently, there are no vaccines or specific antiviral treatments available for the infection.
