Arabic version: تم إجلاء الركاب من السفينة السياحية MV Hondius المتأثرة بفيروس هانتا في جزر الكناري

The MV Hondius cruise ship has arrived at the Canary Islands, allowing the first group of passengers to disembark following a hantavirus outbreak. Spain’s central government overruled an attempt by local authorities to prevent the ship’s entry due to public health concerns. According to ABC News, the initial group of Spanish nationals began their evacuation around 9:30 AM local time on Sunday.

The disembarkation process is expected to be lengthy, with a total of 149 passengers and some crew members needing to be ferried to shore using small boats. Once ashore, they will be taken to the airport for repatriation flights to their home countries, where they will undergo quarantine until their health status is confirmed.

Concerns among local residents persist, despite assurances from the Spanish government that no one on board is displaying signs of infection. Some locals, like Tenerife resident Simon Vidal, expressed discomfort with the ship’s arrival, questioning why it was allowed to dock in the islands.

Members of the World Health Organization are on-site in Tenerife to support the evacuation efforts. The CDC has also become involved, managing the response to the outbreak and coordinating the evacuation of American passengers. Reports indicate that three people have died since the outbreak began, with eight confirmed infections overall.

The ship’s remaining crew will sail to Rotterdam after all passengers have been evacuated. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that the public health risk from hantavirus remains low, reassuring residents of the Canary Islands as the evacuation unfolds.