Passengers start disembarking from hantavirus-stricken ship in Canary Islands
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Passengers from the hantavirus-affected MV Hondius cruise ship began disembarking in Tenerife, Canary Islands, with no reported symptoms among the over 140 people on board, according to Spanish authorities, WHO, and the cruise company.
- Three deaths and five infections have been linked to the outbreak; passengers are being evacuated by nationality with health checks and quarantines planned in their home countries, including Spain, the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, France, Australia, and Norway.
- The cruise ship will remain anchored with some crew and a deceased passenger's body onboard, then sail to Rotterdam for disinfection; authorities are ensuring no contact between evacuees and the local population.
- British Army medics parachuted onto remote Tristan da Cunha to monitor a suspected hantavirus case from a former passenger, highlighting the global response and monitoring efforts for potential spread.
- Hantavirus transmission is usually via rodent droppings, but the Andes virus strain involved may spread between people in rare cases; symptoms appear 1-8 weeks after exposure, necessitating extended quarantines and monitoring.
