Two Indians Evacuated to Netherlands from Cruise Ship Amid Hantavirus Outbreak

Two Indian nationals aboard the MV Hondius, a luxury cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak, were evacuated to the Netherlands and have been confirmed healthy and asymptomatic. The evacuation was confirmed by the Indian Embassy in Spain on May 10, 2026, following the vessel’s arrival in the Canary Islands after a journey that began on April 1 from Argentina. Approximately 150 individuals, including the Indian crew members, were aboard the ship when the outbreak was reported.

The Spanish National Centre for Emergency Monitoring and Coordination (CENEM) facilitated the evacuation under protocols established by the WHO. The Indian mission stated that the two crew members would undergo quarantine in the Netherlands as part of health safety measures. Indian Ambassador to Spain, Jayant N. Khobragade, is actively coordinating with Spanish authorities to ensure the welfare of the evacuated nationals.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported ongoing collaborations with the Spanish Health Ministry to assess health conditions among passengers and organize necessary charter flights. Hantavirus, primarily transmitted through rodent contact, has been associated with isolated cases, with five passengers reportedly infected, and three fatalities recorded since the outbreak was first detected.