A military-grade isolation unit in Madrid will quarantine passengers evacuated from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius. The facility, known as the High-Level Isolation Unit (UAAN) at the Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital, is designed to handle victims of radioactive leaks and highly infectious diseases.
Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius
Three people have died and several others have fallen ill after the rare rat-borne illness spread through the luxury cruise ship, which departed from Argentina approximately one month ago and is currently anchored near Cape Verde off Africa's west coast. Evacuations have already commenced, with one British man among three patients transported to the Netherlands last night under escort by workers in hazmat suits.
Spain has announced that its 14 citizens aboard the ship will be transferred to the UAAN if they exhibit any symptoms. The military-level facility is equipped to contain outbreaks of tropical and rare diseases, including haemorrhagic fevers, emerging respiratory illnesses, and incidents involving highly dangerous biological or radioactive agents.
Evacuation and Transfer Process
The operation will begin after passengers disembark at the port of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife, where they will receive initial medical evaluations before being evacuated by military aircraft to the Torrejón de Ardoz air base. From there, they will be transferred to the UAAN, located on the 22nd floor of the Madrid hospital.
The isolation unit features seven inpatient beds and a BSL-3 biosafety level laboratory, ensuring strict isolation from the rest of the hospital. Access is separate from public entrances, via a dedicated bed lift. Rooms are equipped as ICU bays with a vacuum pressure system, hyperchlorinated water toilets, and hydrogen peroxide disinfectant. Each room connects to an airlock system and decontamination zones, with separate corridors for personnel, clean equipment, and contaminated materials. Healthcare staff must pass through decontamination stations with specific procedures for safe PPE removal before leaving isolation areas.
Background and Quarantine Measures
Colonel Antonio Fé Marques, head of the unit, stated that the facility was established following the 2014 Ebola epidemic, which spread across West Africa and heightened global health alerts. Spain's Health Minister, Mónica García, said symptomatic patients will be admitted directly to isolation units, while asymptomatic passengers will be kept in separate areas within the same hospital complex.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles emphasised that quarantine will be voluntary, and citizens must sign an informed consent form, as it is a measure that deprives individuals of their liberty. A total of 19 British passengers and four crew members are listed in the ship's log. Two British nationals who left the ship in late April have been asked to self-isolate for 45 days, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
