Spain has rejected plans to allow a cruise ship hit by a deadly virus outbreak to dock in the Canary Islands, as authorities scramble to deal with a growing health emergency at sea.
The MV Hondius, a luxury expedition vessel carrying around 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries, has been left stranded near Cape Verde after a hantavirus outbreak on board led to three deaths. A Dutch couple and a German national are among those who have died, while several others remain ill or under observation.
2 among the 149 passengers are Irish.
The Spanish government had proposed allowing the ship to dock in either Gran Canaria or Tenerife, where passengers could be medically assessed, treated and repatriated. However, the plan has been firmly rejected by Fernando Clavijo, the regional leader of the Canary Islands, who said the move lacked sufficient guarantees around public safety.
“This decision is not based on any technical criteria, nor is there sufficient information to reassure the public or guarantee their safety,” he said, adding bluntly: “I cannot allow it to enter the Canary Islands.”
Clavijo has now requested an urgent meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, highlighting growing political tensions between the regional administration and the central government over how to handle the crisis.
@skynews The MV Hondius is off Cape Verde after requesting help from local authorities, but no one has been allowed to disembark. Three passengers have died and several others are ill, with plans underway for medical evacuations #hondius #cruiseship ♬ original sound - Sky News
Despite the opposition, Spain’s health ministry has argued the country has a responsibility to intervene after Cape Verde refused to allow the ship to dock, leaving those on board effectively stranded. Officials said the decision to bring the ship to the Canary Islands was made following requests from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union, stressing both humanitarian and legal obligations.
According to the ministry, the Canary Islands are the nearest location with the infrastructure needed to safely handle the situation. Plans had included strict containment measures, with passengers and crew to be transported in controlled conditions to avoid any contact with the local population, while healthcare workers would operate under enhanced safety protocols.
The ship is now expected to undertake a four-day journey towards the islands, although the situation remains fluid given the regional government’s refusal.
Not all passengers can wait that long. Three individuals, including a critically ill Dutch national, were due to be evacuated by medical aircraft, while two crew members are also said to require urgent care. Earlier in the crisis, a British passenger was airlifted on 27 April to South Africa, where they remain in intensive care but are understood to be improving. In total, 19 British nationals are believed to be on board, including four crew members.
Health officials have identified seven suspected cases of hantavirus, a rare but potentially fatal disease typically spread through contact with infected rodents. The WHO believes the initial infections may have occurred before boarding, particularly in Argentina, where the cruise originated. However, there are concerns that some transmission may also have taken place during the voyage, possibly during bird-watching excursions to remote islands where rodents are present, or through close contact between passengers.
Those on board have been confined to their cabins as disinfection efforts and containment measures continue. Despite the circumstances, some passengers have described a relatively calm atmosphere on the ship.
“Our days have been close to normal, just waiting for authorities to find a solution,” said Qasem Elhato, adding that passengers are passing the time reading, watching films and keeping occupied.
Others have highlighted the emotional toll of the uncertainty. “There’s a lot of uncertainty and that is the hardest part. All we want right now is to feel safe, to have clarity and to get home,” said American travel vlogger Jake Rosmarin.
@abcnewsaus US travel blogger Jake Rosmarin has shared a tearful post on social media from on board a cruise ship on which 3 people have died after a suspected outbreak of rodent-borne hantavirus. Cape Verde health authorities have banned the luxury cruise ship from docking at the port of Praia and about 150 people are stuck on the boat. The National Directorate of Health of the Atlantic Ocean archipelago nation says all necessary safeguards are being put in place, including preparations for possible medical evacuations by air ambulance. It says the situation is under control and there's currently no risk to the population on land. The cruise ship company, Oceanwide Expeditions, says two staff members need urgent medical care as the World Health Organization steps in. Reporting via AP/Reuters. #Hantavirus #Cruise #Ship #CapeVerde #ABCNews ♬ original sound - ABC News Australia
Belgian passenger Helene Goessaert said those on board are receiving regular updates, describing the situation as “a waiting game”, while noting that the recent delivery of fresh food supplies had been an important boost to morale.
The outbreak has cast a shadow over what was marketed as a high-end Antarctic expedition, with ticket prices ranging from $16,000 to $25,000. Now, instead of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, passengers find themselves at the centre of an unfolding international health crisis, with governments, health agencies and families anxiously awaiting a resolution.
