Canary Islands: Cruise Ship with Hantavirus to Anchor Off Tenerife

Fernando Clavijo, regional president of the Canary Islands, announced that the national government accepted his proposal to keep the MV Hondius anchored off Tenerife without docking. The cruise ship is at the center of a hantavirus outbreak that has caused three deaths and eight confirmed cases.

"We have succeeded in getting the national government to accept the proposal... that the ship not dock under any circumstances."
— Fernando Clavijo

Key Details

• The MV Hondius is expected to anchor off Granadilla, Tenerife, on Sunday.
• Passengers will disembark only for direct transfer to repatriation flights or isolation facilities, with no contact with the local population.
• Spain's health minister, Mónica García, informed Clavijo of the decision after his meeting with the prime minister.

Statements from Officials

Clavijo posted on X: "We have succeeded in getting the national government to accept the proposal... that the ship not dock under any circumstances and remain anchored until the passengers have disembarked, ensuring all safety guarantees."

Spain's head of civil protection, Virginia Barcones, stated that asymptomatic passengers will be evacuated quickly and remain isolated from the public.

Background on Outbreak

• The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the outbreak is linked to a birdwatching trip in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.
• The risk to the general public is low, with transmission requiring close and prolonged contact.
• Passengers from 12 nationalities disembarked on April 24; authorities are tracing their movements.