Hantavirus-hit cruise ship at centre of international health response and evacuation operation

Emergency crews, working with the World Health Organization (WHO), have evacuated three people from the cruise ship MV Hondius off Cape Verde following a hantavirus outbreak involving a rare strain with potential limited human transmission.

The vessel, carrying around 150 passengers from 23 countries, remains disputed as the Canary Islands refuse docking, while Spain’s Health Minister Monica Garcia says Tenerife will receive it. Evacuations via the archipelago are scheduled from May 11.

  • Three evacuees flown from Cape Verde via Praia; onward travel disrupted by aircraft technical fault in Canary Islands
  • Cruise ship remains anchored amid ongoing docking restrictions and multi-country contact tracing

The outbreak has been linked to three deaths, including a Dutch couple and a German national. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says public risk remains “low” while international contact tracing continues.

ℹ️ Al Jazeera

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This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. Photo / AFP
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Hantavirus-hit cruise ship at centre of international health response and evacuation operation
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