World Health Organization (WHO) Director‑General Tedros Ghebreyesus warned that additional cases of hantavirus could appear in the coming weeks after the evacuation of passengers from the outbreak‑inflicted cruise ship MV Hondius. Speaking with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at a joint news conference in Madrid’s Moncloa Palace, Tedros said the global public‑health risk remains low but, because the virus has a long incubation period, further infections are possible.
To date, 11 hantavirus‑related cases have been reported among the ship’s occupants, three of them fatal. Nine of the cases have been laboratory‑confirmed as Andes virus, a hantavirus strain, while the remaining two are classified as probable infections. “Our assessment continues to be that the global public‑health risk remains low,” Tedros affirmed, adding that there is no indication of a wider outbreak at present.
WHO’s recommendations call for all evacuated passengers to undergo active health monitoring for 42 days from their last exposure, either in designated quarantine facilities or at home, with the monitoring period ending on 21 June. Anyone who develops symptoms should be isolated and treated immediately.
The Spanish government agreed on 5 May to host the MV Hondius after the outbreak was reported on board. The vessel arrived off Tenerife on 10 May and docked at the Port of Granadilla the following day. Over a two‑day operation, more than 120 passengers and some crew members were disembarked under strict protective and sanitary measures and subsequently flown out of Spain. Sanchez described the evacuation as a “success,” noting that ten special flights were organized to return the multinational group of travelers. He highlighted four guiding principles for the operation: scientific rigor, absolute transparency, institutional coordination and international cooperation.
All passengers had left Tenerife by 11 May, after which the ship departed for Rotterdam with 28 crew members remaining. The European Commission is coordinating closely with Spain, EU member states and other countries participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU is also working with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, WHO and other partners to manage passenger disembarkation, repatriation and follow‑up health monitoring.
Tedros thanked Spain for its swift response, praising the country for fulfilling its legal obligations under international law and for demonstrating “solidarity, compassion and kindness” throughout the evacuation.
The situation underscores the importance of rapid multinational cooperation in containing infectious‑disease threats and highlights the need for continued vigilance as monitoring continues into June.
