WHO reassures Tenerife residents as hantavirus-affected cruise ship MV Hondius prepares to dock

The MV Hondius cruise ship, carrying nearly 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries, is set to dock in Tenerife's industrial port of Granadilla on May 9, 2026. The vessel has reported 8 total cases of hantavirus (6 confirmed, 1 suspected later reclassified negative), with 3 deaths and 4 patients hospitalized. The WHO issued a public reassurance to Tenerife residents, stating the current public health risk remains low and that infected/symptomatic individuals will not encounter the community. All passengers will be transported in sealed vehicles through a completely cordoned-off corridor to the industrial port, far from residential areas. The outbreak is linked to a birdwatching expedition in Argentina attended by two passengers before boarding. British nationals returning to the UK will undergo 45-day self-isolation and cannot use public transport.