Medical experts say the hantavirus poses no risk to the population of the Canary Islands or workers at the Port of Tenerife.
This clarification comes as authorities manage the aftermath of an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. Because the virus requires specific conditions to spread, specialists are working to prevent public panic regarding the safety of port operations and local residents.
Juan Gestal, a Spanish infectious disease doctor, said the virus requires close contact to transmit [1]. This biological requirement means that individuals who only have indirect contact with infected areas, such as port workers handling cargo or ships, are not at risk of contracting the illness [1].
Epidemiologist Alfredo Corell said on May 6 that the risk for residents of the Canary Islands is zero because transmission requires intimate contact [2]. These findings contrast with the severity of the situation aboard the MV Hondius, where three people died [2]. Several other passengers on the vessel were also infected [2].
While the situation in Tenerife remains low-risk, other regions have faced significant challenges. In Mendoza, 31 new cases of hantavirus were reported [3], a sharp increase compared to the average of 16 cases seen in the previous five years [3].
Other recent fatalities linked to the virus have occurred in South America. A young girl died in Hijuelas, Valparaíso, Chile, on March 24, 2026 [4]. Additionally, a 53-year-old woman in the Ñuble region of Chile died after contracting the virus while gathering blackberries [5].
In Spain, the medical response continues for those affected by the cruise ship outbreak. Currently, 14 people are admitted to the Gómez Ulla Hospital who are not showing symptoms [6]. The hospital has established a special ward and implemented all necessary security measures to monitor these patients [6].
“"The risk for the Canarians is zero, transmission requires intimate contact"”
The distinction between environmental exposure and intimate transmission is critical for public health management. While hantavirus can be lethal—as evidenced by deaths in Chile and the MV Hondius outbreak—the lack of community spread in Tenerife demonstrates that the virus does not behave like a highly contagious respiratory pathogen. This allows port operations to continue without restrictive quarantines for the general public.
