The cruise ship MV Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak has claimed three lives, is now heading toward the Canary Islands. The vessel is expected to reach its destination in three to four days. Shocking footage released by the BBC shows the interior of the ship, which resembles a ghost town.
Seven hantavirus cases aboard MV Hondius cruise ship bound for Canary Islands
Spain’s Ministry of Health confirmed Tuesday evening (May 5) that the MV Hondius cruise ship, carrying 7 confirmed hantavirus cases and three deceased passengers, will dock at the Canary Islands “based on international law and for humanitarian reasons.”
According to the update, the ship is expected to arrive at the Canary Islands in three to four days, where all passengers and crew will be examined by specialized medical teams waiting for them before returning to their home countries.
According to the World Health Organization, Cape Verde “is not in a position to carry out this operation.” Meanwhile, Spain’s Health Ministry emphasizes that “the Canary Islands are the closest destination with the necessary capabilities. Spain has a moral and legal duty to help these people, many of whom are Spanish citizens.”
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WHO warns hantavirus may spread human-to-human aboard cruise ship
The World Health Organization has indicated that human-to-human transmission of the virus may have occurred aboard the cruise ship where three passengers have died. This is precisely why passengers remain confined aboard the vessel.
Hantavirus transmission typically occurs through contact with infected rodents. However, according to the World Health Organization, in this specific case, the virus could have spread between “very close contacts” aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The WHO stressed that such transmission is rare and that public risk remains low.
According to the World Health Organization, human infection is primarily transmitted through contact with urine, feces, or saliva from infected rodents. It’s a rare but serious disease that can be fatal. Although uncommon, previous outbreaks of the Andes virus (a hantavirus subtype) have recorded limited cases of human-to-human transmission. The WHO currently estimates that risk to the global population remains low while continuing to monitor the situation.
The cruise ship carries approximately 150 people from more than 20 countries, and the situation is described as controlled, with most passengers remaining calm. However, one cruise ship passenger, in a video posted on social media, said: “We are not just news or headlines. We are people, with families and lives waiting for us back home.”