Crew Members Medically Evacuated from Cruise Ship After Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:59:00 +0200

Three people, including two crew members, were medically evacuated from the MV Hondius after a suspected hantavirus outbreak that may have resulted in at least three passenger deaths. The cruise ship, carrying nearly 150 people, received permission from Spanish authorities to dock in the Canary Islands, where health officials from Spain, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and the World Health Organization will examine and treat passengers and crew. The Canary Islands government initially opposed the docking plan and requested discussions with the Spanish prime minister. Hantavirus, a rare disease transmitted by rodents through urine, droppings, and saliva, poses a serious health risk but is uncommon. Following medical evaluation, passengers and crew are expected to be repatriated to their home countries. In other news covered by the publication, the U.S. military recently struck a vessel in the Pacific, leading to controversy over the deaths of three individuals, w