The four Australians aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak, will be the final passengers permitted to leave the vessel. They are expected to return to Australia within 48 hours.
Docking and Evacuation Process
The MV Hondius has docked at the Spanish island of Tenerife, where authorities, including the World Health Organisation, are monitoring the evacuations, which began on Sunday night Australian time. The delay for the Australian group is due to the charter flight having to travel the longest distance. The flight, which will also carry a New Zealand national and a permanent resident, is anticipated to arrive back in Australia on Tuesday.
The Australian government confirmed that officials in both Tenerife and Canberra have coordinated the response. Medical staff will be on board the charter flight, which is scheduled to depart around 1am Tuesday Australian time. The passengers reside in New South Wales and Queensland, with one passenger already having returned to Australia from the ship. None of the group traveling to Australia are displaying symptoms of the virus, but they will undergo quarantine procedures overseen by the states.
Initial Evacuations and Health Measures
The first plane carrying passengers from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship left Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday for Madrid, where they will be taken to a military hospital. Spanish nationals were the first to leave the MV Hondius, which remains anchored off Tenerife, the largest island in the Spanish archipelago off the coast of West Africa. The luxury cruise ship had 147 passengers who have remained on board since the outbreak. The Dutch-flagged vessel will return to Rotterdam once all passengers have left.
None of the more than 140 people on the Hondius have shown symptoms of the virus, according to Spain’s health ministry, the WHO, and cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions. Those disembarking and personnel working at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife wore protective gear, including face masks, hazmat suits, and respirators. Spanish Health Minister Mónica García stated, "The entire operation is proceeding normally."
Hantavirus and Outbreak Details
Hantavirus typically spreads when people inhale contaminated residue from rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between people. However, the Andes virus detected in this outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. Symptoms usually appear between one and eight weeks after exposure. Three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who left the ship are infected with hantavirus, which can cause life-threatening illness. Passengers and crew disembarking are leaving behind their luggage and are allowed only a small bag with essential items, a cellphone, a charger, and documentation.
Oceanwide Expeditions Statement
In a statement on Sunday, Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the MV Hondius, said: "Oceanwide Expeditions continues to work with relevant authorities to bring the medical situation on board to a conclusion. The vessel arrived at the port of Granadilla, Tenerife, on Sunday... Led by local authorities, the WHO, and select international governments, the disembarkation of all guests and a limited number of crew members is underway. Upon disembarkation, all individuals will be transferred immediately to waiting aircraft. The sequence of disembarkation is being coordinated with the arrival of repatriation flights. Oceanwide Expeditions is not involved in the planning and facilitation of guest screening and repatriation. As outlined by the WHO, in partnership with several international organizations and governments, guests will be transported by air to their respective countries, where they will enter quarantine procedures. Respective national authorities determine these procedures. No quarantine of non-Spanish nationals will take place in Spain. After all guests and limited crew have disembarked, Hondius will bunker and take on necessary supplies at Santa Cruz, Tenerife. Following this, the vessel will transit to the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands with the remaining crew members aboard. Further details regarding the vessel's arrival in Rotterdam will be provided when available. The expected sailing time to Rotterdam is around five days."
