Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius: Three Dead, Ship Docks in Tenerife Amid Regional Opposition
Where things stand
Updated May 10, 08:03 AMThe MV Hondius is anchored off Granadilla, Tenerife, after arriving with three dead and eight total hantavirus cases (three fatal, five suspected), confirmed as the Andes variant. Passengers are confined to cabins awaiting negative tests before transfer in sealed boats to the airport for repatriation flights arranged by the US, Spain, and UK. The Canary Islands government continues to oppose the ship's presence, calling for it to depart quickly, while health officials assure strict isolation and no contact with locals. Weather is deteriorating, adding pressure to complete the evacuation. The WHO says the overall public health risk is low but warns further cases may appear given the six-week incubation period.
Open questions
- How many passengers have been cleared to disembark after testing negative for hantavirus?
- What is the timeline for completing the evacuation given the deteriorating weather conditions?
- Have any new symptoms emerged among the remaining passengers and crew since April 28?
- Are rodents being tested on the ship or in the port area to confirm the source of the virus?
- What arrangements exist for passengers from the 23 countries not covered by the US, Spain, and UK repatriation flights?
- Will the Canary Islands government take further administrative or legal action to halt the disembarkation?
Key actors
What's corroborated
Three passengers have died in the hantavirus outbreak.
12 sourcesacross 1 articleFive other suspected cases of hantavirus have been identified on the ship.
12 sourcesacross 1 articleThe Canary Islands regional government opposes the MV Hondius cruise ship docking due to a hantavirus outbreak.
10 sourcesacross 1 articleThere have been eight cases of Hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius.
9 sourcesacross 1 articleCanary Islands leader Fernando Clavijo said the decision is not based on technical criteria and lacks sufficient information to guarantee public safety.
8 sourcesacross 1 article
Timeline48
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.
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.
Canary Islands government reiterates opposition to MV Hondius docking, citing insufficient safety information.
Argentina reports a surge in hantavirus cases linked to climate change, providing context for the MV Hondius outbreak.
UK Foreign Office begins repatriation efforts for British nationals stranded on MV Hondius.
Dutch couple suspected to have contracted hantavirus from a rodent during birdwatching before boarding, per Aftonbladet.
Three dead, five suspected hantavirus cases on MV Hondius; Andes strain confirmed. Ship anchored off Cape Verde.
Three people, including a British crew member, evacuated from MV Hondius off Cape Verde; ship stranded.
Argentine authorities investigating source of hantavirus outbreak on MV Hondius; three dead, others infected.