A cruise ship stricken by a hantavirus outbreak is set to arrive in Tenerife early on Sunday, where repatriation flights will be waiting to transport passengers back to their home countries. The 22 British nationals on board, including 19 passengers and three crew members, are expected to be flown to the UK the same day.
Evacuation Plans and Procedures
Health officials have confirmed that British passengers will be tested on the ship before disembarking and then taken directly from the vessel to a waiting aircraft. Upon arrival in the UK, they will be transported to a hospital in Wirral, Merseyside, for clinical assessment and testing. They will remain there for up to 72 hours, after which specialists will determine whether they can complete their 45-day self-isolation at home or at another suitable location.
Spain's interior minister has confirmed that Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands are also sending aircraft to repatriate their citizens. The European Civil Protection Mechanism has made two additional planes available to assist EU countries lacking air transport resources.
WHO and Health Agency Responses
The head of the World Health Organisation arrived in Spain on Saturday to join senior government officials overseeing the evacuation. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the risk to the public remains low. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has classified all passengers as high-risk contacts as a precautionary measure, urging symptomatic individuals to be prioritised for medical assessment.
The UK Health Security Agency reiterated that the risk to the general public is very low. Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at UKHSA, said: “We continue to work at pace with our international partners to ensure the safe repatriation of British nationals from the MV Hondius.”
Local Concerns and Protests
The ship's arrival has sparked protests among Tenerife residents, who fear potential exposure to the virus. Dock workers demonstrated in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, holding banners reading “without protocol, no safety.” Local resident Simon Vidal expressed unease: “I tell you, I don’t like this very much. Why did they have to bring a boat from another country here?” Another resident, Samantha Aguero, added: “We feel a bit unsafe, but we also need to have empathy.”
Origin of the Outbreak
Health officials suspect the outbreak may have originated from a Dutch couple who contracted the illness during a bird-watching trip to a landfill site in Ushuaia, Argentina. Eight suspected cases of hantavirus have been linked to the ship, which sailed from southern Argentina.
Symptoms and Treatment
Hantavirus symptoms include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and shortness of breath. Symptoms typically appear two to four weeks after exposure but can occur up to 40 days later. There is no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment; care is supportive, focusing on hospitalisation and respiratory support if needed.
