Tenerife grapples with hantavirus response as WHO issues follow-up guidance amid local public health monitoring
The World Health Organization issued follow-up guidance on May 14, 2026, as Tenerife continued monitoring public health after disembarking nearly 150 passengers and crew from the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius amid a hantavirus outbreak. According to WHO officials, the operation involved coordinated repatriation of passengers from 23 countries and ongoing health surveillance following three confirmed deaths linked to the Andes strain of hantavirus.
The World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the public health risk to Tenerife residents remains “low” despite the hantavirus outbreak linked to the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius. In a May 9 message, Tedros emphasized that “this is not another COVID,” noting that while the outbreak is serious with three confirmed deaths from the Andes strain of hantavirus, no symptomatic passengers were on board at that time.
The disembarkation and repatriation operation involved nearly 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries, according to WHO officials.
More than 120 people had safely disembarked by May 14, the agency reported in a follow-up message, adding that all were being cared for and monitored by public health professionals. The operation was conducted under the International Health Regulations (IHR) framework, with passengers transferred using sealed, guarded vehicles through a cordoned-off corridor at Granadilla port in southeastern Tenerife. WHO praised Spain’s leadership and said the port was chosen to keep passengers away from residential areas and minimize community risk.
Spain agreed to receive the ship after WHO determined that Cabo Verde, the vessel’s previous stop, lacked the capacity for a full disembarkation. Following the operation, the MV Hondius departed Tenerife en route to the Netherlands. WHO officials confirmed that no passengers traveled on commercial flights; instead, nine charter flights arranged by eight countries repatriated the passengers over two days.
Health authorities in several countries have initiated monitoring and follow-up procedures for returning passengers. U.S. Health and Human Services officials told the BBC that Americans repatriated from Tenerife would undergo health assessments, including self-isolation and symptom monitoring for up to 42 days, in line with CDC guidance. Canadian public health authorities are also monitoring their nationals for potential infection. Spain reported that 14 Spanish nationals were quarantined at a military hospital in Madrid, with one individual provisionally testing positive and 13 others testing provisionally negative, according to BBC reporting.
WHO has requested regular health status updates on passengers and crew through the IHR network to ensure ongoing surveillance both during transit and after arrival in home countries. The agency’s messaging has consistently emphasized that the Andes hantavirus does not pose the same transmission risk as COVID-19, and that broader community transmission in Tenerife is unlikely. The main risk remains limited to close-contact exposure rather than widespread local spread, Tedros said, reassuring residents that they would not encounter passengers due to the controlled transfer plan.
The hantavirus involved in the outbreak is a rare strain primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their excreta, according to WHO. The three confirmed deaths underscore the virus’s severity, but officials said the outbreak’s containment measures have been effective so far. The WHO’s follow-up guidance issued May 14 reiterates the importance of continued monitoring and international cooperation to manage the public health response.
The Tenerife operation marks a significant coordinated effort involving multiple countries and agencies to respond to an emerging infectious disease risk aboard a cruise ship. WHO’s communications since May 9 have detailed the steps taken to safely disembark and repatriate passengers while minimizing public health risks. The agency continues to work with Spain and other affected countries to monitor the situation and update guidance as necessary.
