One evacuated passenger tests positive for hantavirus and another develops symptoms on flight home

Passengers evacuated from the hantavirus-infected cruise ship MV Hondius began flying home on military and government planes Sunday after the vessel docked in Tenerife, the largest island in the Canary Islands. One of the 17 American passengers tested positive for hantavirus but showed no symptoms, while a French traveler developed symptoms during their flight home and was placed in strict isolation for testing. The ship’s arrival in Tenerife triggered an international evacuation effort, involving passengers from over 20 countries. Spanish passengers were the first to disembark, flown to Madrid and taken to a military hospital. French passengers were met by emergency services upon landing in Paris. A Japanese national was repatriated to Britain under 45 days of health monitoring by British authorities. Health officials confirmed that no passengers on the ship showed symptoms before evacuation. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Spanish Health Ministry stated the risk to the public remains low, though passengers and port workers wore full protective gear during disembarkation. The Americans will be taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s quarantine facility, where one will be isolated in the Biocontainment Unit due to their positive test. The MV Hondius outbreak has resulted in three deaths and five confirmed infections among those who left the ship earlier. Passengers were transported to shore in full-body protective gear, sprayed with disinfectant, and forbidden from contacting the local population. WHO officials noted relief among passengers as they were repatriated, emphasizing that the outbreak poses minimal public health risk. Authorities continue evacuations, with flights expected to operate until Monday. The ship’s crew and remaining passengers will undergo symptom checks and isolation protocols before any further movement.