Two Indian crew members were evacuated from the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius on Monday after a hantavirus outbreak occurred on board [1].

The incident has triggered an international health emergency, prompting the World Health Organization and Spanish authorities to coordinate a rapid response to prevent a wider spread of the rare virus.

The vessel, which carried approximately 150 people [3], anchored off the coast of Spain’s Canary Islands on May 11, 2026 [4]. Health officials said three people died on the ship during the outbreak [2].

Following the arrival at the Canary Islands, the two Indian crew members were evacuated and transported to the Netherlands for quarantine [1]. Reports indicate that these two individuals remain safe and are currently under observation according to WHO protocols [1].

The ship is also referred to in some reports as the MV Hondurz. Spanish authorities and global health agencies ordered the evacuation and quarantine measures to contain the virus while the ship remained stationary off the coast.

While the ship reached the Canary Islands for the initial response, the decision to move specific crew members to the Netherlands ensures they receive specialized medical monitoring in the ship's home country.

“Three people died on the ship during the outbreak.”

The evacuation of crew members to the Netherlands and the involvement of the WHO highlight the high-risk nature of hantavirus in enclosed environments. Because the virus is rare and can be fatal, authorities are prioritizing strict quarantine protocols over standard port processing to avoid a land-based outbreak in the Canary Islands.