WHO Chief Heads to Tenerife to Oversee Hantavirus Evacuation from Cruise Ship

World Health Organization Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is set to arrive in Tenerife, Spain, on Saturday (May 9, 2026), to coordinate the evacuation of passengers from the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius following a deadly hantavirus outbreak. The virus, identified as the Andes strain capable of person-to-person transmission, has killed three passengers—a Dutch couple and a German woman—and confirmed six cases among those on board, according to Spanish and WHO officials.

The MV Hondius, carrying around 150 people, is expected to arrive off the coast of Tenerife on Sunday (May 10, 2026), but will not dock. Passengers will be transferred to shore via a smaller vessel and then bused to the airport under strict health protocols for repatriation. Spanish authorities confirmed the evacuation must occur by Monday (May 11, 2026), due to forecasted adverse weather, while dockworkers in Tenerife protested the ship's arrival over safety concerns.

The WHO stated the public health risk remains low, noting that hantavirus is not highly contagious between people. A KLM flight attendant exposed to an infected passenger tested negative, as did two Singapore residents on the ship, though they remain in quarantine. U.S. officials are arranging a dedicated flight to evacuate American passengers to a quarantine facility in Nebraska. British authorities are monitoring a suspected case on Tristan da Cunha, a remote South Atlantic island the ship previously visited.

Tedros will join Spain’s Health and Interior Ministers at a command post in Tenerife to ensure coordination across health agencies and enforcement of surveillance protocols. The Canarian regional government confirmed no suspected cases remain on board, and all evacuations will follow WHO-recommended infection control measures. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.