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The Foreign Office is urgently taking action to assist British citizens aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak. According to a statement from Oceanwide Expeditions released on Tuesday, there are 19 passengers and four crew members on board who are British nationals. Among those affected, a 56-year-old doctor was evacuated from the ship on Wednesday and is currently in a stable condition.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper acknowledged the gravity of the situation, describing it as “very serious and deeply stressful for those affected and their families.” The outbreak has been deadly, with three passengers dying since the ship departed Argentina roughly a month ago. Despite initial concerns from local officials, Spanish authorities have now permitted the vessel to dock at the Canary Islands. The World Health Organization reported that three individuals displaying symptoms, including the British doctor, a 41-year-old Dutch crew member, and a 65-year-old German passenger, were evacuated to the Netherlands for medical treatment on Wednesday.
At this time, the source of the hantavirus outbreak remains unknown, and it is unclear if individuals outside of the passengers have been infected. The UK response is being coordinated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in collaboration with the WHO. The Foreign Office is working closely with international partners to ensure that British nationals aboard the ship can return home safely while maintaining public health protections. Consular staff have been in continuous contact with those on board as efforts continue to facilitate medical evacuations and repatriations.
The MV Hondius is set to sail to the Canary Islands, where passengers will be disembarked at the Granadilla port in Tenerife, according to Spain’s health minister Monica Garcia. Spanish nationals will be quarantined in Madrid, whereas passengers from other countries will be repatriated if they show no symptoms. Hantavirus, which is transmitted primarily through contact with rodents or inhaling particles from rodent urine and droppings, can cause severe respiratory illnesses and kidney complications. Despite the outbreak, UKHSA has reassured the public that the risk to the UK population remains very low and there is no cause for alarm
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