Summary:
Spain’s Health Ministry has authorized the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, affected by a hantavirus outbreak, to dock in the Canary Islands. The regional government of the Canary Islands objects, saying officials were not given enough technical information to guarantee public safety. South African authorities have identified the Andes strain of hantavirus in samples from passengers; that strain can, in rare cases, spread between people. Three passengers have died and several others are ill or suspected cases. The vessel had been anchored off Cape Verde.
Latest developments (May 6, 2026):
– Spain and the Canary Islands: The Hondius, which departed Argentina and was moored off Cape Verde after the outbreak, is preparing to travel to Spanish territory. Madrid says the Canary Islands are the nearest place with facilities to examine and treat passengers and crew and to arrange repatriation. The regional government, led by Fernando Clavijo, has publicly opposed allowing the ship to dock without more information and has asked for an urgent meeting with the prime minister. Final authority over the docking decision rests with the national government in Madrid.
– Confirmed strain and fatalities: South African health authorities reported detecting the Andes hantavirus in samples taken from passengers transferred from the Hondius. Two cases were confirmed after airlifts from the ship: a British man in intensive care and a woman whose infection was confirmed after she died in South Africa. In total, three deaths have been linked to the outbreak and at least four other people have become ill, with some still aboard pending evacuation. The World Health Organization noted that two of the earliest cases — a Dutch woman who later died and her husband — had recently traveled in Argentina and elsewhere in South America before boarding the cruise.
– International evacuations and care: Several passengers believed to be infected have been evacuated for specialized care. Three evacuees were being transferred to the Netherlands; they are nationals of the Netherlands, Britain and Germany. A German national who had contact with a deceased passenger is being flown to Amsterdam and will be moved under high-containment conditions to a university clinic in Düsseldorf for precautionary testing; she reportedly has no symptoms. In Switzerland, a returning passenger tested positive and received treatment at University Hospital Zurich; his wife is asymptomatic and in self-isolation.
About hantavirus and the Andes strain:
Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses carried mainly by rodents. Human infection typically begins like a flu or a febrile illness and can progress to severe, sometimes fatal, disease depending on the virus strain. In most regions, people become infected by inhaling dust contaminated with rodent urine, droppings or nesting material, or by direct contact with contaminated surfaces; rodent bites can also transmit the virus. The virus can persist in the environment for days to weeks. The Andes virus, found mainly in Argentina and Chile, is notable because person-to-person transmission has been documented, though this is considered rare and generally requires close, prolonged contact such as sharing a bed or meals.
What authorities are doing:
Spain’s Health Ministry says all passengers and crew will be examined and treated on arrival; those requiring further hospital care will be transferred to local hospitals and eventually repatriated when appropriate. Spanish officials argue that Cape Verde lacks the capacity to manage the response, which informed the decision to bring the vessel toward the Canary Islands. Canary regional authorities have requested more technical detail from Madrid and international health bodies to reassure the public, and have asked why evacuations could not be conducted from Praia International Airport in Cape Verde.
What is known so far:
The MV Hondius was anchored off Cape Verde after cases and deaths were reported onboard. South African tests on samples from some passengers flown from the ship detected the Andes hantavirus. Three deaths have been linked to the outbreak, and international health authorities and affected countries are coordinating evacuations, testing, treatment and contact tracing.
Public guidance and ongoing work:
Health officials emphasize that, apart from the rare potential for person-to-person spread with the Andes strain, the hantavirus threat to the general public remains limited when recommended precautions are followed. Investigations, testing, containment measures and international coordination are ongoing as patients are moved to specialized facilities and public health agencies share information. Authorities advise following official updates and health guidance from national and regional agencies.