Emergency medical transfers are underway for those who have fallen ill on board a hantavirus-stricken cruise expedition vessel, after Spanish authorities approve humanitarian docking
Three individuals have been evacuated from a Dutch expedition cruise vessel in the Atlantic following a deadly outbreak of the rare hantavirus.
Hondius, carrying nearly 150 passengers and crew, was granted permission to dock in the Canary Islands by the Spanish government on 6 May. The move ends a diplomatic standoff after Cape Verdean authorities refused the vessel entry.
World Health Organization (WHO) director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed the patients are being transferred to the Netherlands for treatment. The evacuees are Dutch, German, and British nationals.
The operation is a coordinated effort between the WHO, the vessel’s operator Oceanwide Expeditions, and authorities from Cape Verde, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands.
The Netherlands-flagged expedition vessel remains anchored offshore of Cape Verde. As Riviera reported, authorities in Cape Verde denied the vessel permission to dock at the Port of Praia on 3 May following three deaths. The deceased were Dutch and German nationals.
Spain agreed to allow Hondius to dock in the Canary Islands, citing “compliance with international law and humanitarian considerations.
“The government will release the details of this protocol as soon as they are defined by WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC),” the Spanish Ministry of Health said in a statement.
Oceanwide Expeditions separately confirmed the Canary Islands as the planned destination following the medical transfers. It remains in talks with authorities regarding the exact arrival point, quarantine procedures, and timeline.
WHO, alongside the EU, requested Spain’s intervention after concluding that Cape Verde lacked the necessary capabilities to manage the crisis. It stressed that the government has “a moral and legal obligation” to assist, noting that several Spanish citizens are among those on board.
ECDC is currently assessing which other individuals require urgent evacuation. The remaining passengers are expected to reach the Canary Islands within four days, though a specific port is yet to be confirmed. Upon arrival, all on board will be examined and treated before being repatriated.
Hantaviruses are rodent-borne pathogens that can cause severe disease in humans. The strain on board has been identified as the Andes virus. The WHO currently assesses the global risk as low but continues to monitor the situation.
Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April 2026. Its itinerary included mainland Antarctica, South Georgia, and remote Atlantic outposts including Tristan da Cunha and Saint Helena. WHO is still determining the extent of passenger contact with wildlife during the voyage.
