Australians Await Final Repatriation from Hantavirus-Infected Cruise Ship
Four Australians who were on board the MV Hondius, a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak, are among the last passengers to be allowed to leave the vessel. They are expected to return to Australia within 48 hours. The MV Hondius has docked at the Spanish Island of Tenerife, where authorities, including the World Health Organization, have been monitoring the evacuations since Sunday night Australian time.
The delay in their departure is due to the Australian charter flight that will repatriate the group needing to travel the longest distance. This flight will also include a New Zealand national and permanent resident, and it is expected to arrive back in Australia on Tuesday. The Australian government has confirmed that officials in both Tenerife and Canberra have been coordinating the response, with medical staff on board the charter flight, which is scheduled to depart around 1am Tuesday Australian time.
The four Australian passengers reside in NSW and Queensland, with one already having returned to the country from the ship. It is understood that none of the group traveling to Australia are displaying symptoms of the deadly virus but will be subject to quarantine procedures overseen by the respective states.
Evacuation Process and Medical Measures
The first plane carrying passengers from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship left Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday for Madrid, where they will be taken to a military hospital. Spanish nationals were the first to leave the MV Hondius, which remains anchored off Tenerife, the largest island in the Spanish archipelago off the coast of West Africa. The ship arrived hours earlier.
None of the more than 140 people on the Hondius has shown symptoms of the virus, according to Spain’s health ministry, the World Health Organization, and cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions. Those disembarking and personnel working at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife were wearing protective gear during the evacuation process, including face masks, hazmat suits, and respirators.
‘The entire operation is proceeding normally,’ said Spanish Health Minister Mónica García.
Understanding Hantavirus
Hantavirus usually spreads when people inhale contaminated residue of rodent droppings and isn’t easily transmitted between people. However, the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. Symptoms usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.
Three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who left the ship are infected with hantavirus, which can cause life-threatening illness.
Passengers and crew members disembarking are leaving behind their luggage and are allowed to take only a small bag with essential items, a cellphone, a charger, and documentation.
Oceanwide Expeditions Statement
In a statement on Sunday, Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the MV Hondius ship, said: ‘Oceanwide Expeditions continues to work with relevant authorities to bring the medical situation on board to a conclusion. The vessel arrived at the port of Granadilla, Tenerife, on Sunday… Led by local authorities, the WHO, and select international governments, the disembarkation of all guests and a limited number of crew members is underway. Upon disembarkation, all individuals will be transferred immediately to waiting aircraft. The sequence of disembarkation is being coordinated with the arrival of repatriation flights. Oceanwide Expeditions is not involved in the planning and facilitation of guest screening and repatriation. As outlined by the WHO, in partnership with several international organizations and governments, guests will be transported by air to their respective countries, where they will enter quarantine procedures. Respective national authorities determine these procedures. No quarantine of non-Spanish nationals will take place in Spain. After all guests and limited crew have disembarked, Hondius will bunker and take on necessary supplies at Santa Cruz, Tenerife. Following this, the vessel will transit to the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands with the remaining crew members aboard. Further details regarding the vessel’s arrival in Rotterdam will be provided when available. The expected sailing time to Rotterdam is around five days.’
