Tenerife, May 11, 2026
The final evacuation flights for passengers stranded aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship departed on Monday, marking a critical step in containing a Hantavirus outbreak that has prompted a global quarantine effort. Among the 17 passengers flown to the U.S., one exhibited mild symptoms, and another tested weakly positive for the virus, according to the U.S. Department of Health.
Evacuation and Quarantine Efforts
By late Sunday, 94 passengers had been evacuated from the ship, as confirmed by officials. An Australian flight was scheduled to transport six passengers on Monday, while a Dutch flight prepared to take 18 others. A Japanese passenger had already arrived in the U.K. via a British charter flight and will undergo a 45-day medical monitoring period, the Tokyo government reported.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended a 42-day quarantine starting Sunday, a measure now being enforced globally for affected individuals. Of the 38 Filipino crew members, all tested negative so far, Manila authorities stated. Twenty-four crew members will be flown to the Netherlands for a six-week quarantine, while the remaining 14 will stay aboard to steer the ship back to the Netherlands for disinfection.