Nearly 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries had been stranded aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship for weeks following an outbreak of Andean hantavirus, a rare but potentially deadly disease that can, in rare circumstances, spread between humans through close contact.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the operation, coordinated under the International Health Regulations (IHR), demonstrated the importance of international solidarity in health emergencies.
“We can say with certainty that this phase of the operation was crowned with success,Tedros told a news conference in Tenerife on Tuesday. “All passengers have disembarked and left Tenerife, and the MV Hondius is now on its way to the Netherlands.”
As of May 13, the WHO said 11 cases linked to the ship had been reported, including three deaths. Eight cases were laboratory confirmed as Andes virus infections, two were considered probable, and one was inconclusive pending additional testing in the United States.
The WHO said the overall risk remained low and stressed that all confirmed and suspected cases had been isolated and managed under strict medical supervision.
“For the moment, there is no indication that we are witnessing the start of a larger epidemic,“Tedros said.”But of course, the situation could change.»
The monitoring phase begins
WHO officials have warned that new cases could still emerge due to the virus’s long incubation period. The WHO guidelines call for active surveillance and quarantine for passengers and crew members repatriated to their countries of origin for 42 days starting May 10.
“Anyone showing symptoms should be isolated and treated immediately.” said Tedros.
The agency asked countries to regularly report, through the IHR network, on the health and well-being of passengers and crew.
WHO officials said the Tenerife operation involved more than 120 people disembarking over two days and boarding nine charter flights organized by eight countries. No passengers traveled on commercial flights.
Sara Barragan Montes, WHO technical lead for health at borders and points of entry, described the response as “a key example of IHR action”.
“The response was a key example of RSI action,” she said during a WHO social media briefing on Wednesday, referring to the international framework governing cooperation in health emergencies.
Emotional toll for passengers
Tedros repeatedly praised Spain for accepting the ship after the WHO determined that Cape Verde, where three symptomatic passengers had previously been evacuated, did not have the capacity to handle a full disembarkation.
“I thank Prime Minister Sánchez not only for respecting Spain’s legal duty under international law, but also for exercising his moral duty to show solidarity, compassion and kindness to the ship’s passengers,” he said.
WHO officials also stressed the emotional toll of passengers for weeks at sea.
“Some passengers suffered from nervous breakdowns,” Tedros said, rejecting calls from some commentators for passengers to remain isolated on board the ship during the entire quarantine period.
“We thought it would have been inhumane and unnecessary. Yesterday… I even called it cruel to suggest that,” he said.
The ship is now heading to Rotterdam with 25 crew members, a Dutch doctor and a Dutch nurse on board. The WHO said it would continue to coordinate with authorities until the ship was safely disinfected and all remaining personnel disembarked.
