Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius: Three Dead, Ship Docks in Tenerife Amid Regional Opposition
Where things stand
Updated May 10, 10:54 PMThree passengers have died in the hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, which is now anchored off Granadilla, Tenerife. Eight cases have been linked to the ship, with the Andes variant confirmed. No new symptoms have been reported since April 28. Evacuations began on Sunday, with passengers transferred in sealed boats to Granadilla port and then by sealed buses to the airport for repatriation flights provided by Spain, the US, the UK, and Australia. Spanish nationals were the first to disembark. Passengers remain confined to cabins until they test negative. The Canary Islands government continues to oppose the ship's presence, demanding it leave quickly, while health authorities stress strict isolation. Bad weather is complicating the operation. The WHO says the overall public health risk is low but warns that further cases may appear due to the virus's six-week incubation period.
Open questions
- How many passengers and crew have been safely evacuated so far, and how many remain on board?
- Are any new hantavirus cases emerging among passengers or evacuees during the incubation period?
- What is the condition of the three individuals previously airlifted for medical treatment?
- What contact tracing and quarantine measures are in place for repatriated passengers?
- Have rodent tests confirmed the presence of hantavirus on the ship?
Key actors
What's corroborated
Three passengers have died in the hantavirus outbreak.
15 sourcesacross 1 articleThere have been eight cases of Hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius.
14 sourcesacross 2 articlesFive other suspected cases of hantavirus have been identified on the ship.
14 sourcesacross 1 articleThe MV Hondius is heading to the Canary Islands, specifically Tenerife, and is expected to arrive on Saturday or Sunday.
13 sourcesThe Canary Islands regional government opposes the MV Hondius cruise ship docking due to a hantavirus outbreak.
12 sourcesacross 1 article
Timeline50
Passengers from MV Hondius are being transported in sealed and guarded boats to the industrial port of Granadilla, then sent directly to their home countries.
MV Hondius arrived at Tenerife, Canary Islands, as expected.
Swedish passenger from MV Hondius under regional monitoring; no risk to others, per local infection control.
Rescuers face time pressure to evacuate the MV Hondius due to approaching bad weather.
Five U.S. states begin monitoring passengers from MV Hondius; Trump says situation under control, WHO confirms no pandemic risk.
Professor Jonas Klingström states that the risk of a hantavirus pandemic is very low, reinforcing existing assessments.
Health authorities announce plans to test rodents in connection with the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak.
WHO tracing 82 flight contacts of deceased Dutch passenger; outbreak total stands at 3 dead, 7 confirmed/suspected cases.
Passengers confined to cabins, reading and watching movies, as suspected hantavirus infections rise.
2026-05-06: Canary Islands regional government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
2026-05-06: Canary Islands regional government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands regional government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands regional government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands regional government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands regional government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
2026-05-06: Multiple major media outlets report that the Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose the MV Hondius docking, with leader Fernando Clavijo reiterating insufficient safety information and requesting an urgent meetin
Canary Islands regional government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose docking of MV Hondius, citing insufficient safety information; leader Fernando Clavijo reiterates demand for urgent meeting with PM Sánchez.
Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose docking of MV Hondius, citing insufficient safety information; leader Fernando Clavijo reiterates demand for urgent meeting with PM Sánchez.
Multiple major media outlets report that the Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose the MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information, with leader Fernando Clavijo demanding an urgent meeting with the prime mini
Multiple major media outlets report that the Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose the MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information; protests and anger among Tenerife residents are highlighted.
Multiple major media outlets report that the Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose the MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information; protests erupt in Tenerife.
Multiple major media outlets report that the Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose the MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information, with leader Fernando Clavijo demanding an urgent meeting with the prime mini
Multiple major media outlets report that the Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose the MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information, with leader Fernando Clavijo reiterating his demand for an urgent meeting wi
Two UK returnees from the MV Hondius told to self-isolate by UK Health Security Agency.
Multiple major media outlets report that the Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose the MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information; protests erupt in Tenerife.
Multiple major media outlets report that the Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose the MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information; protests erupt in Tenerife.
Multiple major media outlets report that the Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose the MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information; protests reported in Tenerife.
Protests erupt in Tenerife as Canary Islands government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking; multiple media outlets report on the standoff.
Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose docking of MV Hondius, citing insufficient safety information.
Multiple outlets report Canary Islands regional government continues to oppose MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Two UK returnees from MV Hondius told to self-isolate by UKHSA, per multiple major media reports.
Two UK returnees from MV Hondius told to self-isolate by UK Health Security Agency.
Two people who returned to the UK from the MV Hondius told to self-isolate by UK Health Security Agency.
Multiple major media outlets report that the Canary Islands regional government opposes the MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Multiple outlets report Canary Islands government opposes docking of MV Hondius, citing insufficient safety information.
A British passenger evacuated from the MV Hondius speaks publicly about hantavirus exposure.