A ship beside cruise ship MV Hondius anchored off Cape Verde port, on the day sick passengers had been evacuated by boat from the cruise ship, in Praia Port, Cape Verde, on Might 5, 2026.
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
A cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak will dock “inside three days” at Granadilla on the island of Tenerife, Spain’s well being minister stated on Wednesday (Might 6, 2026), regardless of opposition from the Canary Islands regional authorities.
“A joint system for well being evaluation and evacuation might be put in place to repatriate all passengers, except their medical situation prevents it,” Well being Minister Monica Garcia Gomez advised a Madrid information convention.
The 14 Spanish nationals — together with one crew member — on board the MV Hondius might be transferred to Madrid’s Gomez Ulla Army Hospital, she added.
Ms. García stated the federal government was monitoring the worldwide alert “minute by minute” to take all steps to stop any potential unfold of the virus.
Earlier on Wednesday (Might 6, 2026), Spanish state broadcaster TVE reported the cruise ship was set to dock on the Canary island of Tenerife, citing sources from the nation’s Well being Ministry. The Ministry didn’t instantly reply to Reuters‘ requests for remark.
However Ms. García stated she had been in “fixed contact” with Mr. Clavijo and he would participate in all conferences.
A supply near the Canary Islands presidency earlier stated {that a} medical evacuation flight deliberate to switch a physician from the ship to the archipelago had been cancelled, with out giving a purpose.
The director-general of the World Well being Group, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, later stated three suspected instances, together with the physician, had been evacuated from the vessel and had been en path to the Netherlands for therapy.
The Spanish Well being Ministry confirmed on Tuesday (Might 5, 2026) night it would obtain the MV Hondius within the Canary Islands “in accordance with worldwide regulation and humanitarian rules.” “As soon as in the Canary Islands, medical groups would study and deal with all passengers and crew and switch them to their international locations,” a press release issued earlier stated.
“The World Well being Group has defined that Cape Verde is unable to hold out this operation,” the Well being Ministry stated. “The Canary Islands are the closest location with the required capabilities. Spain has an ethical and authorized obligation to help these individuals, amongst whom are additionally a number of Spanish residents.”
The MV Hondius has been on the centre of a world alert since Saturday (Might 2, 2206), when the WHO was knowledgeable that three passengers had died and the suspected trigger was hantavirus.
The Dutch-flagged ship left Ushuaia in Argentina on April 1 on a voyage via the Atlantic Ocean. It has been anchored off Cape Verde since Sunday (Might 3, 2026).
There have been 88 passengers and 59 crew, with 23 nationalities, onboard, the WHO stated.
With AFP, Reuters inputs
Revealed – Might 06, 2026 12:40 pm IST