Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship as MV Hondius Docks in Tenerife

The MV Hondius, a Dutch cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, has arrived off the coast of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. Spanish authorities began a carefully coordinated operation early Monday to evacuate passengers and crew from the vessel.

The ship, originally scheduled to reach the islands on Sunday, anchored at the port of Granadilla around 6:30 a.m. local time. The evacuation process started shortly after, according to Spanish broadcaster RTVE.

The outbreak was confirmed by the World Health Organization, which reported seven infections and three deaths. The ship had been traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde when the virus emerged.

Hantaviruses are a family of pathogens spread through contact with rodents—their droppings, urine, or saliva. In humans, the virus can cause two severe conditions: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, which attacks the kidneys, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which affects the lungs. Both can be fatal.

The MV Hondius now sits at anchor as Spanish health officials work to contain the situation, testing remaining passengers and crew while arranging safe disembarkation. The incident has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a routine voyage, turning it into a public health emergency on the high seas.