As the MV Hondius cruise ship approaches Tenerife on May 9, 2026, European nations are mobilizing to evacuate their citizens following a hantavirus outbreak onboard. The ship, which has seen confirmed cases of the virus and three fatalities, is set to anchor between 0300 and 0500 GMT.

Authorities including the World Health Organization (WHO) have been in close contact with involved countries to manage the evacuation process, emphasizing that the public health risk remains low. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reassured the public, stating that this situation should not be viewed similarly to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Passengers will be ferried ashore at the Granadilla port in sealed vehicles, isolated from residential areas. The evacuation includes citizens from Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands, with the European Union also deploying two additional planes for remaining European nationals. The U.S. and the UK have arranged their own flights for respective citizens as well.

Health authorities plan to perform thorough health checks on all passengers. Those displaying any symptoms will be isolated and flown directly to appropriate medical facilities for testing and treatment. Spanish nationals will be prioritized in the evacuation process, with arrangements for medical isolation upon return.

The cruise ship operator reported that no symptomatic individuals remain onboard, and all evacuated passengers will be subjected to active monitoring for 42 days following their last point of exposure. As conditions at sea become increasingly challenging, prompt evacuations are essential to ensure the safety of foreign nationals aboard.