WHO Keeps Watch as MV Hondius Outbreak Raises Fears of More Hantavirus Cases

Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, has warned that additional cases of Hantavirus may emerge in the coming weeks following the evacuation of passengers from the outbreak-hit cruise ship, MV Hondius.

Tedros spoke on Tuesday during a joint news conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, where he said the global public health risk remained low.

“Given the long incubation period of the virus, it is possible that we may see more cases in the coming weeks,” he said.

According to him, 11 Hantavirus-related cases have so far been reported, including three deaths.

He said nine of the 11 cases had been confirmed as Andes virus infections, while the remaining two were regarded as probable cases.

“Our assessment continues to be that the global public health risk remains low,” Tedros said, adding that there was currently “no sign” of a larger outbreak.

Tedros stated that WHO had recommended that all evacuated passengers undergo active health monitoring for 42 days from their last date of exposure, either in designated quarantine facilities or at home.

He said the monitoring period would last until June 21.

“Anyone who becomes symptomatic should be isolated and treated immediately,” he added.

Tedros also thanked the Spanish government for agreeing to receive the ship and lead the evacuation effort, praising Spain for fulfilling “its legal duties under international law” while demonstrating “solidarity, compassion and kindness” throughout the operation.

The Spanish government agreed on May 5 to receive the MV Hondius after a Hantavirus outbreak was reported aboard the vessel.

The decision followed requests from the WHO, the European Union, and more than 20 governments seeking assistance to evacuate and repatriate those on board.

The vessel arrived off the Spanish island of Tenerife on May 10 and docked at the Port of Granadilla the following day.

During the two-day operation, passengers and some crew members disembarked from the vessel and were transferred under strict protective and sanitary measures before being flown out of Spain.

Sanchez described the evacuation exercise as a “success”, saying Spain coordinated 10 special flights to evacuate more than 120 people of different nationalities who disembarked from the vessel between May 10 and May 11.

He added that the operation was guided by four key principles: scientific rigour, absolute transparency of information, institutional coordination, and international cooperation.

Spanish health authorities said all evacuated persons from the MV Hondius had left Tenerife by May 11, while the vessel departed for Rotterdam with 28 crew members still on board.

The European Commission said it was coordinating closely with Spain, European Union member states, and other countries participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

The EU added that it was also working with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), WHO, and other partners to coordinate passenger disembarkation, return transfers, and follow-up health monitoring.