The cruise ship MV Hondius reached Tenerife early Sunday, and Spanish health authorities began screening passengers before moving them ashore; World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived on the island as officials coordinated evacuations for nationals of several countries, including Americans who are expected to be moved to a quarantine facility in Nebraska.
Spanish officials said testing will confirm passengers are asymptomatic before they board small boats for the short trip to shore, with Spanish nationals disembarking first and other nationalities following. Once ashore, most people will be taken to the island’s main airport and repatriated to their home countries. The operation is deliberate and staged to limit any risk while moving people off the vessel.
The Hondius had changed course on Wednesday from waters off Cape Verde after the WHO and European Union asked for help managing a cluster of severe illnesses on board. Authorities believe a number of Americans are among the passengers, and plans are in place to transfer U.S. citizens to a military base in Nebraska for quarantine and monitoring. Local teams are coordinating with international partners to make sure travel and quarantine happen safely.
The WHO has said eight people who were aboard the ship fell ill, with six cases confirmed and two additional suspected. Three passengers tragically died, and authorities have been working to identify how the infections began and whether shipboard conditions contributed to spread. Investigators in Argentina have also been focusing on a potential origin point for the outbreak as labs work to trace connections.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who arrived on Tenerife, made a point of calming public fears while acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. “I know you are worried. I know that when you hear the word ‘outbreak’ and watch a ship sail toward your shores, memories surface that none of us have fully put to rest,” he said. He also clarified the WHO’s assessment with a second statement.
“The pain of 2020 is still real, and I do not dismiss it for a single moment. But I need you to hear me clearly: this is not another COVID-19. The current public health risk from Hantavirus remains low. My colleagues and I have said this unequivocally, and I will say it again to you now,” he continued. Those exact words have been repeated to reassure communities and guide local response measures.
Lab work identified the virus aboard the vessel as the Andes strain of hantavirus, a variant known to cause severe illness in some cases. Authorities stress that hantaviruses are typically rodent-borne and that transmission patterns differ from respiratory viruses, which shapes the public health response. Onboard measures, including limiting crew contacts and isolating symptomatic individuals, have been part of the containment strategy.
About 30 crew members are expected to remain on the Hondius as it sails onward to the Netherlands, where the ship will be disinfected and undergo further checks. Evacuation teams will continue to prioritize safety and order, and passengers will be screened repeatedly during the transfer process. International health agencies are sharing data so receiving countries can prepare appropriate quarantine and monitoring protocols.
Officials emphasize the low current public health risk while continuing investigations into the outbreak’s origin and any potential onboard transmission. Authorities are balancing the need to move passengers off the ship with strict health measures designed to prevent further cases. Local hospitals and public health teams in Tenerife are standing by to assist with testing, transport, and any follow-up care needed.
