The Indian Embassy in Spain has confirmed the successful evacuation of two Indian crew members from the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which experienced a hantavirus outbreak. The crew members, currently in good health and asymptomatic, were transported to the Netherlands for quarantine. The luxury vessel, managed by Oceanwide Expeditions, had set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 and arrived in the Canary Islands after reports of the virus emerged during the journey.
The ship, carrying around 150 individuals, remained anchored in the Canary Islands while passengers disembarked under the supervision of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Spanish authorities. The Indian Embassy communicated that the evacuation was coordinated with the Spanish National Centre for Emergency Monitoring and Coordination (CENEM). Ambassador Jayant N. Khobragade is in ongoing contact with the crew members and local officials to ensure their well-being.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus provided updates on the international response, emphasizing the collaborative efforts with Spanish health authorities for epidemiological assessments and charter flight coordination. The evacuation process involved strict disinfection protocols and personal protective equipment to safeguard all involved.
Hantaviruses are primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their waste, with symptoms typically appearing one to eight weeks post-exposure. So far, three fatalities have been reported, and five passengers have tested positive for the virus.
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