Hantavirus-hit ship expected in Canaries on Sunday: Spanish

The Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius is anchored off Praia, Cabo Verde, May 6, 2026. (Photo by Elton Monteiro/Xinhua)

Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia stressed that there are currently no new contacts in Spain linked to confirmed hantavirus cases and reiterated that "the risk to the population remains low."

MADRID, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia said on Saturday that the cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to arrive at the port of Granadilla on the Spanish island of Tenerife between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. local time (0300-0500 GMT) on Sunday, as authorities continue to monitor a hantavirus outbreak linked to the vessel.

Speaking to the media, Garcia said the first step upon the ship's arrival would be to check whether any passengers show symptoms of the virus. Passengers will disembark wearing face masks, she added.

Garcia stressed that there are currently no new contacts in Spain linked to confirmed hantavirus cases and reiterated that "the risk to the population remains low."

The minister is scheduled to travel to Tenerife later on Saturday together with Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a press briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, Dec. 11, 2025. The year 2025 has brought both significant progress and major challenges for the WHO and global health more broadly, Tedros said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

Meanwhile, a person identified in Catalonia as having been in contact with the Dutch woman who died from hantavirus after traveling aboard the MV Hondius entered quarantine at Barcelona's Hospital Clinic on Saturday.

According to Toni Castells, the hospital's medical director, the virus has an incubation period of three to six weeks, meaning the quarantine could last up to six weeks.

Castells said the individual is not considered a patient, but rather an asymptomatic contact. As a result, contact tracing will only be activated if the person tests positive for hantavirus.

Spanish authorities have also identified two additional contacts who traveled on the same flight as the deceased Dutch passenger.