Passengers from the hantavirus-affected cruise ship MV Hondius began evacuating from Tenerife in an internationally coordinated operation, despite no confirmed symptomatic cases. Spanish authorities led the effort, with nationals from Spain, France, the UK, and other countries flown home on chartered flights under health supervision. British passengers and crew were transferred directly from the ship to a military bus and then to a plane bound for the UK, where they will undergo clinical assessment at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral for 72 hours. The hospital previously served as a quarantine site during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The evacuation, described by Spanish health officials as 'unprecedented,' is expected to continue into Monday. All 22 British nationals on board are being repatriated the same day. Passengers were transported in sealed buses to Tenerife South Airport under biosecurity protocols, with French and Spanish evacuees departing first. No infections have been confirmed, but fears among island residents and passengers about stigma and exposure have added tension to the operation.

The MV Hondius, carrying around 150 people, had been at sea when hantavirus concerns emerged. While hantavirus is less contagious than Covid-19, it can be severe when contracted, typically through contact with rodent droppings or urine. The current response draws on lessons from past cruise outbreaks, including the 2020 Diamond Princess incident. Authorities emphasized that containment measures are in place, but the psychological impact on passengers—some fearing ostracism—remains a concern.