Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius: Three Dead, Ship Docks in Tenerife Amid Regional Opposition
Where things stand
Updated May 7, 09:12 AMThree people have died from hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius, with eight confirmed cases and five suspected. The ship is en route to the Canary Islands, but the regional government opposes docking and passengers are not permitted to disembark. About 150 passengers and crew remain confined to cabins during disinfection. Three evacuees, including a British crew member, have been airlifted to the Netherlands for treatment. The UK Foreign Office is coordinating the repatriation of 19 Britons aboard, working with the WHO, which assesses the overall public health risk as low.
Open questions
- Where did the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius originate?Open since May 6, 2026
- Are there any other people infected with the virus who were not on the ship, such as recent flight contacts?Open since May 6, 2026
- When will the MV Hondius be allowed to dock and passengers be allowed to disembark?
- What is the current health status of the passengers and crew still on board?
- Will the Canary Islands government reverse its opposition to the ship docking?
Key actors
What's corroborated
Three people have died aboard the Dutch ship MV Hondius, which is anchored off the coast of Cape Verde.
7 sourcesacross 2 articlesThe strain of hantavirus connected to the outbreak has been confirmed to be the Andes variant.
5 sourcesacross 1 articleTwo Brits are among the cases: one in intensive care in South Africa and a crew member (believed to be the ship's doctor) who was airlifted to the Netherlands.
5 sourcesacross 1 articleThere have been eight cases of Hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius.
5 sourcesacross 1 articleThere are 19 Britons aboard the ship.
4 sourcesacross 1 article
Timeline19
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.
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.