The Dutch-flagged expedition ship MV Hondius, which became the focus of an international hantavirus outbreak investigation after multiple deaths onboard, has now reached Spain’s Canary Islands.
The Embassy of India in Madrid confirmed that the two Indian nationals onboard the ship are “healthy and asymptomatic”.
The vessel was carrying around 150 passengers and crew members. It anchored near Tenerife under strict health safety rules after cases linked to the rare Andes strain of hantavirus raised global concern.
Spanish authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO), and health agencies from several countries worked together to manage passenger disembarkation and medical monitoring.
Why Hantavirus Outbreak Raised Concern
The outbreak attracted worldwide attention because the Andes strain is the only known hantavirus that can spread between humans in limited cases.
However, WHO officials and global health experts have repeatedly said that the situation is not similar to Covid-19 and that the overall public health risk remains low.
Earlier reports said the outbreak onboard was linked to at least six confirmed infections and three deaths. This led to increased surveillance and contact tracing efforts in several countries.
ALSO READ: Deaths, global exposures, multiple cases and more: What we know about cruise ship hantavirus outbreak, how dangerous is it?
Indian Nationals Confirmed Safe
In its latest statement, the Embassy of India in Madrid said the two Indian nationals onboard the MV Hondius are healthy and have shown no symptoms linked to hantavirus infection.
The embassy said the passengers left the ship according to protocols set by Spanish authorities and WHO guidelines after the vessel arrived near the Canary Islands.
The update comes as the ship remained under global attention after several passengers reportedly developed severe respiratory illness during the voyage that began in Argentina.
WHO Chief Says “This Is Not Another Covid”
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed residents of Tenerife before the ship’s arrival to reduce public fear about the outbreak.
“I need you to hear me clearly: this is not another COVID,” Dr. Tedros said in a public message released by the WHO.
He added that the current public health risk from hantavirus “remains low” and explained that the virus spreads very differently from coronavirus.
WHO officials said that although the Andes strain can spread between humans in rare cases, transmission usually requires prolonged close contact, especially among family members, intimate partners or caregivers.
Unlike Covid-19, the virus does not spread easily through casual airborne exposure.
Experts Say Outbreak Can Be Controlled
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s acting director for epidemic and pandemic management, said hantavirus outbreaks are usually controlled through traditional public health measures like contact tracing, isolation and symptom monitoring.
Former WHO Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan also said the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius was serious but manageable.
“Outbreak Can Be Contained,” Dr. Swaminathan said while explaining that the Andes strain’s limited human-to-human spread is very different from highly infectious viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
She said outbreaks linked to hantavirus are usually localised and can be controlled effectively if health protocols are followed quickly.
According to her, isolation, monitoring of close contacts and fast medical response are usually enough to stop further spread.
Dr. Swaminathan also said scientists now understand hantaviruses much better than they understood Covid-19 in early 2020, making containment efforts more effective.
International Monitoring Continues
WHO officials said more cases could still appear because the incubation period for Andes hantavirus can last up to six weeks.
However, authorities continue to describe the outbreak as limited and manageable.
Passengers onboard the MV Hondius underwent medical screening, symptom checks and controlled disembarkation procedures managed by Spain and international health agencies.
WHO experts and European public health specialists continue to remain involved in containment operations.
The safe arrival of the MV Hondius in Spain and confirmation that the two Indian nationals are healthy have provided some relief amid the international hantavirus scare.
While the outbreak has raised concerns because of the rare Andes strain, WHO officials and Indian experts continue to stress that this is not “another Covid” and that the overall public health threat remains low.
Authorities in several countries are continuing surveillance, contact tracing and precautionary health monitoring to prevent further spread.
