On Sunday morning, the HV Hondius, a cruise ship plagued by an outbreak of the hantavirus, docked in Spain, stirring global anxiety over the potential spread of this rodent-transmitted disease. The ship’s arrival follows the tragic deaths of three passengers, which have heightened concerns worldwide.
The ship, originating from the Netherlands, anchored at Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. Onboard were over 140 passengers and crew members, all of whom were scheduled to undergo health screenings. These checks were essential to identify any symptoms of the virus before individuals were allowed to disembark in controlled, small groups.
To ensure safety, passengers were instructed to leave their personal effects onboard and were transported to shore in small boats, each carrying five to ten individuals. This cautious approach aimed to minimize any risk of contagion.
Despite the anxiety brewing among local residents prior to the ship’s arrival, the World Health Organization has reassured the public that the risk of the virus spreading is low. They have committed to maintaining close surveillance of the situation to prevent any escalation.
The Spanish Health Ministry announced that Spanish nationals, comprising 13 tourists and one crew member, would be the first to disembark. These individuals are set to be flown to a military hospital in Madrid, where they will be isolated in separate rooms to ensure stringent monitoring.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department confirmed that 17 American passengers would be repatriated via a special flight back to the United States. Upon arrival, they will be taken to the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska for further evaluation and isolation.
The UK will also send a plane to evacuate its citizens, who will all be required to isolate for 45 days upon return.
The weeks-long Atlantic cruise – which departed from Argentina on March 20 – spiraled into a nightmare when an elderly Dutch couple carried the rare Andes strain of the virus after contracting it in Argentina last month.
The husband died aboard the expedition vessel; his wife came down with symptoms after getting off on the island of St. Helena and flying to South Africa, where she died.
Another passenger – a German national – also died.
Three suspected patients, a German, Dutch and British national, were evacuated to the Netherlands for medical care, the WHO said, while Switzerland confirmed a former passenger tested positive for the virus after showing symptoms.
Twenty-three others left the ship and scattered back home across the globe before realizing they had been exposed to the deadly virus — which has a mortality rate of up to 40% — on April 23.
Only one is known to have fallen ill so far.
US officials are also monitoring former travelers in Georgia, California, and Arizona.
The remaining passengers were stranded aboard, answering questions from health workers and waiting to see if they show symptoms, which can take up to eight weeks to appear.
Hantavirus attacks the lungs and slowly suffocates its victims. It is normally transmitted via rodent feces, but the Andes strain can jump from human to human.
The infection usually spreads through prolonged, close contact and isn’t nearly as contagious as diseases like COVID-19.
Hantavirus manifests as a severe flu, with survivors describing the grueling disease as “torture.”
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a “Level 3” alert over the outbreak and has cautioned that the threat to the public remains minimal.
A Level 3 threat is the CDC’s lowest emergency level, used to bring in experts to monitor the situation and prepare a response if necessary.
With Post wires.
