Two Irish women have been repatriated to Ireland after being passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship during a hantavirus outbreak [1].
The government's decision to evacuate the citizens underscores the high-risk classification of the passengers and the necessity of strict health monitoring to prevent further spread.
The women arrived in Ireland on the night of May 10, 2026 [2], after being flown from Tenerife in the Canary Islands via a government jet [3]. The MV Hondius had docked in Tenerife on Sunday, May 10, 2026 [3].
Upon arrival, the two passengers were moved to a Health Service Executive (HSE) facility [1]. They are currently undergoing a period of isolation and testing to ensure they have not contracted the virus.
"They have been placed in isolation at an HSE facility where they will be tested and receive psychological support," a HSE spokesperson said [1].
Health officials indicate that the passengers are currently stable. Professor Mary Horgan, the Interim Chief Medical Officer, said the women are in good health and showing no symptoms of the virus [1].
The repatriation follows guidelines regarding the containment of the outbreak. A spokesperson for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said all passengers on the MV Hondius are considered high-risk and will be monitored closely [1].
While the women remain asymptomatic, the isolation protocol remains in place to verify their health status before they are released from the HSE facility [1].
“The women are in good health and showing no symptoms of the virus.”
The use of a government jet for the repatriation of only two citizens suggests a high level of precaution by Irish health authorities to avoid commercial travel risks during a viral outbreak. By utilizing a dedicated HSE facility for isolation and psychological support, the state is managing both the biological risk of hantavirus and the mental stress associated with emergency evacuations from a high-risk environment.
