2 Indians on hantavirus-hit MV Hondius healthy, shifted to Netherlands for quarantine: Embassy

Two Indian crew members aboard the hantavirus-linked cruise ship MV Hondius are asymptomatic and in good health, the Indian Embassy in Spain said on Sunday.

The embassy said the two Indian nationals have been evacuated to the Netherlands, where they will undergo quarantine as part of standard health safety protocols.

“The Ambassador is in close contact with the Spanish authorities and the two Indian nationals (crew members) and is regularly monitoring the situation to ensure their well-being and safety,” the embassy said in a statement.

Meanwhile, France reported that one of its five nationals who had been onboard the outbreak-hit vessel showed symptoms during a repatriation flight on Sunday.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the passenger was immediately placed in strict isolation along with the four others.

“They are receiving medical treatment and will undergo tests and comprehensive medical checks,” he posted on X.

The development came as the first batch of passengers from the Dutch-flagged cruise ship began disembarking into small boats on Sunday as evacuation efforts got underway.

The MV Hondius, which was struck by a hantavirus outbreak during its voyage, docked at the industrial port of Granadilla in Tenerife early Sunday.

Spanish health authorities said up to 140 people onboard have shown symptoms linked to the virus, which is primarily spread through contact with urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents and is only rarely transmitted between humans.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sought to calm fears, stressing that the outbreak does not pose a widespread public threat.

“This is not another COVID. The risk to the general public is low. People should not panic,” he said.