Hantavirus-hit cruise ship nears Canary Islands for WHO-led evacuation

A Dutch-flagged cruise ship, the MV Hondius, is nearing Spain's Canary Islands, specifically off Tenerife, where a World Health Organization-led evacuation is planned for Sunday dawn. The ship is experiencing a hantavirus outbreak, which has resulted in the deaths of three passengers and illness among others on board. The majority of the nearly 150 individuals on the vessel will be evacuated and flown home. The WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is expected to be present to help coordinate the operation. The hantavirus outbreak has kept the ship at sea for weeks.

Tenerife is preparing for the arrival of the virus-hit cruise ship Hondius on Sunday. Security measures are heightened at a southern port where medical teams will board to screen passengers. Following checks, passengers will be grouped by nationality and transported ashore by boat, with charter planes from the UK, US, and EU member states ready for repatriation. Spanish nationals will be flown to Madrid for mandatory quarantine. The World Health Organization head is overseeing the operation, praising Spain's response, and urging public trust despite concerns. Intensive care specialists are on standby at Candelaria hospital for any serious cases. The virus, linked to a landfill in Argentina and rarely transmitted between people, has caused three cruise passenger deaths.

Spanish authorities are preparing to isolate and evacuate 140 passengers and crew from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which is en route to the Canary Islands due to a hantavirus outbreak. The vessel is expected to arrive in Tenerife early Sunday morning. At least eight individuals have fallen ill, with three reported deaths and five known infected passengers who previously disembarked. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers the risk to the public low, emphasizing that hantavirus is not easily transmitted between people, though a specific strain on this ship may have rare human-to-human transmission capabilities. Health officials are tracking passengers who left the ship before the outbreak was detected on May 2.

UK health authorities are preparing to isolate approximately 24 British passengers and crew from a virus-affected cruise ship, the MV Hondius. These individuals, along with two from Ireland, will be transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital, a facility previously used for Covid-19 patients, upon their arrival in the UK. The ship is expected to anchor off Spain's Canary Islands on Sunday, and the majority of its nearly 150 passengers will be repatriated to their home countries. Currently, none of the individuals being brought to the UK are exhibiting symptoms of hantavirus. Upon arrival, they will undergo clinical assessment and testing as per the advice of the UK Health Security Agency.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reassured Tenerife residents about the arrival of the virus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius, emphasizing that the current hantavirus risk is low and distinct from COVID-19. A WHO expert and physicians are aboard assessing passengers, with no new symptoms reported. The ship, expected to dock Sunday, will disembark passengers for repatriation flights to various countries, with strict protocols in place to prevent local transmission. While the decision to receive the ship faced local opposition, Ghebreyesus praised Spain's solidarity and humanitarian response, highlighting Tenerife's capacity to manage the situation safely. Passengers will wear masks and undergo controlled disembarkation procedures.

Spanish authorities are preparing for the arrival of the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has a hantavirus outbreak, off Tenerife in the Canary Islands on Sunday. The ship will remain at anchor and will not dock to prevent contact with the local population. Passengers and crew will be evaluated onboard and then repatriated or, in the case of Spanish nationals, transported to a military hospital in Madrid for quarantine. This is described as an unprecedented operation coordinated by Spain and the World Health Organization. The WHO considers the risk to the public minimal due to the virus's transmission method. Three deaths have been reported on the ship.

Spain will repatriate passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship after it docks in the Canary Islands on Sunday. The vessel is experiencing a hantavirus outbreak. Upon arrival at the port of Granadilla on Tenerife, flights will be arranged to transport guests back to their home countries. This action is being taken by the Spanish government to address the health situation on board. The repatriation process is expected to begin on the same day the ship reaches port.

Health officials worldwide are racing to trace passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship following confirmed cases of hantavirus. Seven British nationals disembarked in St Helena on April 24th, prior to the first reported case on May 4th, with four remaining on the island. One patient is on Tristan da Cunha, where the ship stopped in mid-April. Two other British men have confirmed cases, one stable in the Netherlands and another in intensive care in South Africa. Additionally, two British nationals are self-isolating in the UK after potential exposure. US health agencies are monitoring individuals in five states who were on the ship, none of whom are currently symptomatic. Medical staff are expected to be sent to the islands to provide support.

British passengers returning from the hantavirus-affected cruise ship MV Hondius will be required to self-isolate in the UK for 45 days. This measure follows an outbreak linked to a birdwatching expedition in Argentina, with three deaths and eight suspected cases, three confirmed, reported on the ship. Two Britons who previously left the vessel are isolating at home without symptoms, while a crew member was medically evacuated. The UK Health Security Agency is arranging repatriation for remaining asymptomatic Britons and is monitoring for any onward transmission. The risk to the general public is considered very low.

Nations are urgently tracing passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius following a hantavirus outbreak that resulted in three deaths. The virus was detected on the ship before it was stranded off Cabo Verde. Eight individuals, including a Swiss citizen, are suspected of contracting the virus. Approximately 29 to 40 passengers disembarked on April 24 in St Helena, a remote South Atlantic island, before the outbreak was reported. Health authorities are working to prevent further spread of the disease by identifying and monitoring these individuals.

A cruise ship carrying passengers affected by a hantavirus outbreak is scheduled to dock in the southern resort town of Tenerife. Local residents are awaiting the ship's arrival, with the news generating concern and attention within the community. The specific cruise line and the number of affected individuals have not been detailed. The vessel's docking in Tenerife signifies the immediate impact of the health situation on a popular tourist destination. Authorities are expected to manage the situation upon the ship's arrival, addressing public health protocols.

A Dutch cruise ship, the MV Hondius, is en route to the Canary Islands following a hantavirus outbreak that has resulted in three passenger deaths. Two crew members, including a British doctor, and a third individual linked to a deceased German national are being evacuated by hospital aircraft to the Canary Islands for urgent medical care. Officials are assessing which passengers require immediate evacuation from Cape Verde, where the ship is currently docked. The remaining 149 passengers from 23 countries, including 22 other British nationals, will continue to the Canary Islands, expected to arrive in three to four days. The exact port of arrival is undecided, but the operator plans for Gran Canaria or Tenerife.

Crew members from the MV Hondius cruise ship are being medically evacuated to the Netherlands following a suspected hantavirus outbreak, which is believed to have caused at least three passenger deaths. The ship, carrying nearly 150 people, has been granted permission by Spanish authorities to dock in the Canary Islands. Upon arrival, health officials from Spain, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and the World Health Organization will examine and treat those onboard before repatriation. Hantavirus is a rare disease typically spread by infected rodents. Separately, the US has paused "Project Freedom," a plan to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, for a short period to allow for diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict with Iran.

Three passengers have been evacuated from a cruise ship near Cape Verde due to an outbreak of hantavirus. The evacuation occurred after the passengers tested positive for the virus. Hantavirus is a serious and potentially fatal illness transmitted by rodents. The ship was en route to its final destination when the outbreak was detected, prompting the urgent medical intervention. The affected individuals were transported for specialized treatment. Further details regarding the origin of the outbreak on the ship or the total number of passengers onboard have not been released.

A British crew member is among two individuals to be urgently medically evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius due to suspected hantavirus cases. The Dutch authorities are overseeing the evacuation of the ill crew members, who are experiencing respiratory symptoms. The ship will head to the Canary Islands, Spain, for examination and treatment of all passengers and crew, as Cape Verde lacks the necessary medical capabilities. Seven suspected cases of hantavirus have been reported among the 147 passengers and crew, with two confirmed and three fatalities. A British passenger, initially in intensive care in South Africa, is reportedly improving. The UK government is arranging onward travel for its citizens affected by the outbreak.

A hantavirus outbreak linked to the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in seven identified cases, including three deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The ship, carrying 147 passengers and crew from 23 countries, is currently quarantined off Cabo Verde. Among the confirmed cases are a British passenger in intensive care and a Dutch passenger who died after disembarking, who had also tested positive. The outbreak's origin is believed to be connected to the voyage, with investigations ongoing to understand the transmission. The ship's passengers and crew are being monitored as the situation develops.

The World Health Organization (WHO) believes hantavirus may have spread between passengers on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, where three individuals have died. While typically transmitted by rodents, the WHO suggests close human contact on the ship could be a factor, though this is considered rare. The virus was likely contracted by the first ill passenger before boarding. Seven cases, two confirmed and five suspected, have been identified among the 149 passengers and crew from 23 countries. The ship has been moored off Cape Verde since Monday. Disinfection and protective measures are in place, and two symptomatic crew members are scheduled for medical evacuation to the Netherlands. Spain has granted permission for the vessel to dock in the Canary Islands for further assessment.

Cape Verde has refused docking to the cruise ship MV Hondius due to a suspected hantavirus outbreak. Three passengers have died, and at least two others are sick, including a British tourist in intensive care in South Africa where a variant of hantavirus was identified. The cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, stated that the connection between the deaths and the virus is still under investigation. The ship, carrying 149 people of 23 nationalities, was anchored off the coast of Praia. Global health officials are actively investigating the situation.

Three individuals have died and others are ill following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship. The ship was sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde, where it is currently anchored. While three deaths are linked to the suspected outbreak, only one passenger, a British national, has been confirmed to have hantavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the risk to the general public remains low and is coordinating with countries for the evacuation of affected passengers. Investigations are ongoing to confirm the cause of illness and deaths.

A suspected hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in three deaths and several illnesses among passengers and crew. One case has been laboratory confirmed, with five additional suspected cases pending. The ship is currently stationary off the coast of Cape Verde. Three passengers have died, and one is in intensive care in South Africa. The World Health Organization is coordinating with governments and the ship's operator to arrange medical evacuations for two symptomatic passengers while investigating the outbreak and assessing public health risks. Authorities in Cape Verde have not yet authorized broader medical disembarkation.

Three individuals have died following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde. The World Health Organization confirmed one case of hantavirus and is investigating five additional suspected cases. A 69-year-old British national is in intensive care in South Africa. Hantavirus infections are typically contracted through environmental exposure to rodents, though human-to-human transmission is possible in rare instances, leading to severe respiratory illness. The cruise ship is operated by Oceanwide Expeditions.

Three passengers have died on the Atlantic cruise ship MV Hondius following a suspected hantavirus outbreak. The World Health Organization confirmed one case of the rodent-transmitted virus and stated that at least five other passengers were suspected of infection. Of the six affected individuals, three have died, and one is in intensive care in South Africa. The ship was sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde. Investigations are ongoing, including further testing and epidemiological studies, with the WHO coordinating efforts to evacuate symptomatic passengers. Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal disease transmitted through rodent droppings or urine.

Three individuals have died on the Atlantic cruise ship MV Hondius following a suspected hantavirus outbreak. The World Health Organization confirmed one laboratory-confirmed case of hantavirus, with five additional suspected cases among passengers traveling from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cabo Verde. Of the six affected individuals, three have died, and one remains in intensive care in South Africa. South African health officials reported the outbreak of a severe acute respiratory illness, with one patient testing positive for hantavirus. The virus is typically transmitted to humans from rodents.