Madrid: Two Indian crew members aboard the Dutch cruise vessel MV Hondius, which reported a hantavirus outbreak during its voyage, have been evacuated to the Netherlands and are currently healthy and asymptomatic, according to the Embassy of India in Spain.
The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, arrived at Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday after concerns emerged over hantavirus infections onboard.
The Indian nationals were among nearly 150 individuals travelling on the luxury expedition vessel, which had begun its journey from Ushuaia in Argentina on April 1.
Indians evacuated and placed under quarantine
The Indian Embassy confirmed that the two crew members were evacuated along with the rest of the crew and would undergo quarantine in the Netherlands as part of international health safety protocols.
“As informed by the Spanish National Centre for Emergency Monitoring and Coordination (CENEM), the two Indian nationals travelling as crew members have been evacuated to the Netherlands, where they will be quarantined as per relevant health safety protocol,” the embassy said in a statement shared on social media.
The embassy further stated that both Indian crew members are currently in good health and showing no symptoms linked to the virus.
Jayant N Khobragade is reportedly in contact with Spanish authorities and the Indian nationals to ensure their safety and well-being.
WHO and Spanish authorities oversee operation
The passengers onboard the vessel were allowed to disembark in accordance with guidelines established by the World Health Organization and Spanish health authorities.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said health experts were working closely with Spain’s Health Ministry to assess the situation and coordinate further operations.
“WHO experts on the ground are working with the Spanish Health Ministry on the epidemiological assessment of the passengers and coordinating charter flights with the Interior Ministry,” Tedros posted on social media.
The evacuation and disembarkation process reportedly included extensive disinfection procedures and the use of personal protective equipment at every stage.
Spanish health authorities also confirmed that all passengers were asymptomatic at the time of disembarkation.
Hantavirus outbreak raises concern
The hantavirus outbreak aboard the vessel triggered international concern after several infections and deaths were reported among passengers who had travelled on the ship.
According to reports, five passengers who had earlier left the vessel tested positive for hantavirus, while three people have died since the outbreak was first identified.
Authorities said the reported cases appear to be isolated at present, though investigations and monitoring continue.
Hantaviruses are primarily transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents or exposure to their urine, saliva or droppings.
Health experts say people usually become infected after inhaling virus particles in enclosed or poorly ventilated environments such as ships, warehouses, barns and storage facilities.
Symptoms and transmission
Medical experts note that hantavirus symptoms generally appear between one and eight weeks after exposure.
Common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headaches and respiratory complications in severe cases.
Although human-to-human transmission is considered rare for most hantavirus strains, authorities continue to follow strict quarantine and isolation measures to prevent further spread.
The incident has prompted heightened monitoring of cruise ship health safety procedures, particularly for expedition vessels operating in remote regions.
Authorities continue monitoring
Spanish authorities, WHO teams and Dutch health officials are continuing to monitor the evacuated passengers and crew members as part of ongoing precautionary measures.
The Indian Embassy said it remains engaged with relevant authorities and is closely tracking the condition of the two Indian nationals.
The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of confined travel environments such as cruise ships to infectious disease outbreaks and the importance of rapid international coordination during health emergencies.
Officials are expected to continue epidemiological assessments in the coming days to determine the extent of exposure and prevent any further spread of infection.