Countries Airlift Nationals Evacuated From Virus-Hit Cruise Ship in Tenerife

Massive International Evacuation Operation Underway

More than 90 passengers from the virus-affected cruise ship MV Hondius have been evacuated from Tenerife as countries rushed to fly their citizens home following a deadly hantavirus outbreak onboard. Spain confirmed that evacuation flights for passengers from the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Turkey, Ireland, the United States, and several other nations were organized throughout Sunday.

The Dutch expedition ship arrived near the Canary Islands after spending weeks at sea following the outbreak, which has already claimed three lives.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn7pzmg8zeno

Passengers Taken Home Under Strict Safety Measures

Spanish nationals were among the first passengers removed from the ship and transported to Madrid for mandatory quarantine at a military hospital. British passengers were flown to Manchester, while French citizens were taken to Paris under strict medical supervision. Medical teams wearing white hazmat suits boarded the vessel early Sunday morning to check passengers and crew members for symptoms before evacuation procedures began. Passengers wearing face masks were later escorted to the airport under heavy security and biohazard precautions. Several passengers were seen waving from transport vehicles while being driven to evacuation flights.

WHO Reassures Public Over Virus Risk

The World Health Organization (WHO) attempted to calm growing fears surrounding the outbreak. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the operation was progressing smoothly and stressed that the risk to the wider public remained low. Health experts explained that hantavirus rarely spreads between humans, unlike Covid-19, and officials believe the outbreak is linked to infected rodents near a landfill site in southern Argentina visited during the cruise.

Long Quarantine Periods Expected for Evacuated Passengers

Health authorities warned that passengers may face weeks of quarantine because hantavirus can have a long incubation period. The WHO recommended a 42-day isolation period after the last possible exposure to the virus. French authorities confirmed that several passengers would remain under strict isolation after one traveler reportedly developed symptoms during the return flight. British passengers arriving in Manchester were also transferred to a secure observation facility before further medical assessment.

Tenerife Residents Initially Feared Ship Arrival

The arrival of the MV Hondius created concern among some residents and port workers in Tenerife. Small protests took place after fears spread that safety measures might not be strong enough to prevent further infections. Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo also raised concerns about infected rodents potentially leaving the ship, although Spanish health officials later dismissed those fears as highly unlikely.

Cruise Ship to Return to Netherlands After Evacuations

While most passengers are expected to leave the ship in Tenerife, around 30 crew members will remain onboard to help return the MV Hondius to the Netherlands after evacuation procedures are completed. For many passengers, the evacuation marks the end of weeks of fear and uncertainty at sea, although long quarantine periods still lie ahead.