The last group of passengers has finally stepped off the MV Hondius, the cruise ship struck by a hantavirus outbreak that has shaken everyone involved.
As they disembarked in Tenerife, health authorities confirmed three new positive cases linked to the deadly virus.The ship set sail from Tenerife toward the Netherlands on Monday after its final six passengers—four Australians, one Briton, and one New Zealander—along with some crew members left the vessel. Tragically, three passengers who had traveled on the ship have died, with two of them confirmed to have contracted hantavirus.Several others who had already returned home have tested positive: an American, a Spaniard, and a French national.
In total, seven cases tied to the ship have been confirmed, with two more suspected. One Spaniard is now quarantining in Madrid after a provisional positive test, while a French woman is isolating in Paris as her condition worsens.
Two British nationals with confirmed infections are being treated in the Netherlands and South Africa.Hantaviruses are typically spread by rodents, but the Andes strain suspected here can pass between humans. It likely originated during the ship’s earlier journey in South America.
Symptoms often start with fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, stomach issues, and can progress to severe breathing difficulties.Thankfully, officials emphasize that the risk of a wider outbreak remains very low.As of Monday evening, 27 people are still aboard the ship mostly crew including 17 Filipinos, four Dutch (including medical staff), four Ukrainians, one Russian, and one Polish national. These crew members will help sail the vessel to the Netherlands and then enter quarantine. So far, none have shown symptoms.
Over the past few days, more than 90 passengers from the ship, which was docked in Spain’s Canary Islands, have been flown home. Groups from Canada, the US, Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, and other countries have been repatriated and placed under monitoring or quarantine periods ranging from days to weeks.The drama began after the ship left Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 with 147 people from 23 countries. The first death occurred at sea on April 11 an elderly Dutch man who developed symptoms early.
His wife later died in South Africa, and another German woman passed away on board in early May. Both women were confirmed cases.
In a message to those affected, the ship’s captain expressed deep sorrow for those who didn’t make it home and praised the passengers and crew for their patience and kindness during an incredibly tough few weeks.
