After the hantavirus outbreak on the “Hondius”: Now there is also an infection in Spain. There is also growing concern about infected rodents in Tenerife.
May 12, 2026, 3:13 amMay 12, 2026, 3:13 am
Shortly after leaving the cruise ship “Hondius,” a Spanish passenger tested positive for the hantavirus. The passenger was taken to hospital after the positive test result, but has not yet shown any symptoms of illness, the Ministry of Health in Madrid announced on Monday evening. All remaining passengers on the cruise ship in Tenerife affected by a hantavirus outbreak had previously been evacuated.
The “Hondius” in the harbor of Tenerife.Image: keystone
A final group of 28 people left the ship under strict security precautions. They were flown out to Eindhoven in the evening on two planes, as was seen on the Spanish TV channel RTVE.
In order for people to leave the ship, it had to be moored to a pier. The reason was increasingly stormy winds, which would have made disembarkation from the “Hondius”, which had previously been anchored in the port, too risky, said Spain’s Health Minister Mónica García. Shortly after the people disembarked, the “Hondius” set sail with a remaining crew to go to Rotterdam.
Tenerife is worried about infected rodents
The fact that the ship was now connected to the land, even if only briefly, is likely to cause criticism on the island. The regional government of the Canary Islands had previously insisted that the “Hondius” not dock because it was worried that mice with the hantavirus could come ashore. However, García ruled this out, citing experts.
A passenger jet first took off from Tenerife South Airport. According to García, there were 22 crew members of the “Hondius” of various nationalities on board. A German crew member was also supposed to be there, as the Dutch Foreign Ministry announced.
The second aircraft was a smaller medical plane which, according to García, was intended to fly out four Australians, a New Zealander and a Briton. This machine was also initially supposed to fly to Eindhoven.
Hospital: Not all regulations were followed
Since Sunday, a total of 122 people have been flown from the ship to land under strict security precautions and then by plane towards their home countries. García thanked everyone involved and expressed “proud” that Spain was able to carry out such a complicated and “unique” action. That is a great success.
Meanwhile, the Dutch-flagged “Hondius” set off on its six-day journey home. According to operator Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship is expected to arrive in Rotterdam on Sunday evening. After all passengers have been evacuated, there are currently 25 crew members and two medical staff on board the cruise ship. Also on board is the body of the German who died at sea on May 3rd. The ship will then be thoroughly disinfected in the Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, twelve hospital employees had to go into preventative quarantine after coming into contact with a person infected with hantavirus from the “Hondius”. As Radboud Hospital announced, all regulations were not followed upon the patient’s arrival. However, the risk of actual infection for hospital employees is low.
Sources used:
- With material from the news agencies AFP and dpa