The international operation deployed after the arrival of the MV Hondius in Tenerife has already led to the evacuated passengers being distributed among different countries, where health authorities maintain controls, quarantines, and medical monitoring to watch for possible infections related to the hantavirus outbreak detected on the cruise ship.
The situation is not the same in all States. While some governments have reported confirmed positives among their repatriated citizens, others assure that the passengers remain asymptomatic and under preventive observation. The operation has involved medicalized flights, special transfers, and coordination between national health agencies, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Spain was one of the first countries to complete the transfer of its citizens after the disembarkation at the port of Granadilla, in Tenerife. According to Spanish authorities, passengers underwent health checks and were transferred under protection measures. To date, no confirmed positive cases have been reported among the Spanish evacuees.
The Spanish Government has also insisted that the operation was carried out without risk to the population and under specific isolation and health monitoring protocols.
France and United States notify cases under surveillance
France has confirmed the most relevant case reported so far among recent evacuees. A French passenger presented symptoms during the repatriation flight to Paris and subsequently tested positive for hantavirus, according to French authorities.
The five evacuated French citizens remain isolated and under medical observation. The French Executive has also indicated that epidemiological surveillance is maintained on possible close contacts related to the trip.
In the case of United States, health authorities have confirmed a "mild" positive PCR for the Andes strain among repatriated passengers. Another US citizen presents symptoms compatible with the disease and both are being transferred to specialized facilities in Nebraska.
The rest of the evacuated North American passengers are being evaluated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has activated tracking protocols both in Nebraska and in several states where some travelers who previously disembarked from the ship reside.
US authorities have explained that passengers will be classified according to their level of exposure and risk. Those considered higher-risk contacts may remain in specific observation facilities or continue monitoring from their homes under health control.
United Kingdom, Canada and other countries maintain preventive quarantines
United Kingdom has repatriated 22 citizens —19 passengers and three crew members— through special flights from Tenerife. All of them were initially transferred to facilities linked to Arrowe Park hospital, in Wirral, where they will remain under observation before continuing isolation in their homes.
British authorities have indicated that none of the evacuated individuals present symptoms compatible with the disease, although medical check-ups will continue over the next few weeks due to the incubation period associated with the virus.
Canada has also completed the evacuation of its citizens. According to Canadian media and health sources cited internationally, the passengers will remain in preventive isolation and medical follow-up after returning to the country.
Other European governments have activated similar devices. The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Greece, or Turkey organized specific flights or participated in the European civil protection mechanism to repatriate their nationals from the Canary Islands.
In some cases, passengers have been transferred directly to hospitals or temporary isolation centers before continuing quarantine in their homes.
International follow-up after the landing
The WHO maintains international coordination on the epidemiological surveillance of passengers and close contacts linked to the cruise ship. The organization considers that the risk to the general population remains low, although it recommends maintaining controls due to the presence of the Andes hantavirus strain, the only one with documented human-to-human transmission.
Besides the passengers evacuated in Tenerife, several countries continue locating and monitoring people who left the ship before the outbreak was officially confirmed.
International health authorities are especially monitoring the incubation period of the disease, which can last for several weeks. For this reason, many of the passengers will continue to be subjected to daily medical checks, movement restrictions, or home quarantines even after returning to their countries.
The MV Hondius remains under sanitary control for the time being and is scheduled to head to Rotterdam for cleaning and disinfection tasks after the international evacuation operation due to the hantavirus outbreak on board is completed.