Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship MV Hondius triggers international evacuation efforts
The MV Hondius cruise ship is currently subject to an international medical emergency following a hantavirus outbreak that resulted in three deaths, including a Dutch couple and a German national. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified all passengers and crew as high-risk contacts, mandating a 42-day period of active monitoring and isolation. Spain has designated a safe anchorage near the industrial port of Granadilla in Tenerife for the vessel, which is expected to arrive between 3:00 and 5:00 GMT on Sunday, May 10, 2026. A coordinated evacuation plan is underway involving multiple nations, including Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA, which are dispatching aircraft to repatriate their citizens. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has traveled to Tenerife to coordinate the operation alongside Spanish ministers. Local authorities warned that the evacuation must conclude by Monday afternoon due to expected storm conditions. The ship is slated to depart for the Netherlands afterwards for professional disinfection.