Cruise Ship with Suspected Hantavirus Case Docks in Tenerife; Passengers to be Repatriated

Tenerife is currently managing a complex health situation as the cruise ship 'MV Hondius' docks at Granadilla de Abonos port, carrying passengers and crew, including a suspected case of hantavirus. The Spanish government, under the coordination of the Ministry of Interior, is implementing a meticulous disembarkation process to ensure the safety of both the passengers and the local population.

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The body of the person who died on the ship on May 2 will remain on board with part of the crew and will travel from Tenerife to the Netherlands.

Passengers are being repatriated to their home countries via chartered flights. Flights to France, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States have already been confirmed. This organized repatriation aims to minimize any potential risk of contagion while ensuring that passengers can return home swiftly. The health and safety protocols are paramount, with passengers only permitted to disembark once a flight is ready to transport them to their specific destination.

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MV Hondius passengers will disembark in national groups and will only be allowed to disembark when a plane flying to a specific country is ready on the tarmac.

Adding to the complexity, the body of a passenger who died on board on May 2nd will remain on the ship. This individual, along with a segment of the crew, will continue the journey to the Netherlands. This measure is part of the broader containment strategy. From a local perspective in Tenerife, the primary concern is managing the situation efficiently and safely, preventing any public health emergency while facilitating the departure of the cruise ship's occupants. The swift international cooperation highlighted by the coordinated flights underscores the global nature of such health challenges.

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Flights to France, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands have already been confirmed.