Amid the hantavirus outbreak, which has so far killed three people, sparking fears from island leader like MV Hondius approach for docking.
Canary Islands president outraged by Spain’s decision to allow MV ship Hondius dock in the archipelago.
The hantavirus outbreak was first reported on the Dutch polar cruise ship MV. Hondiuswhich was sailing between Argentina and Cape Verde on Sunday May 3, 2026.
The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, appeared on the radio COPE on May 6, 2026.
The president revealed that he had requested an urgent meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to discuss allowing the cruise ship to dock on the islands.
“This decision is not based on any technical criteria nor is there sufficient information to reassure the public or guarantee their safety,” said the president of the Canary Islands.
The cruise ship with 150 passengers on board, which left the Argentinian coast about three weeks ago, is expected to dock on the island of Tenerife.
VM Hondius is sailing to Cape Verde, where authorities have not issued a docking order due to fears of a virus outbreak among the local population.
According to the latest WHO update, seven cases of hantavirus have been confirmed among 221 passengers on board the cruise, two people infected and five others under control.
