A boat beside cruise ship MV Hondius anchored off Cape Verde port, on the day sick passengers were evacuated by boat from the cruise ship, in Praia Port, Cape Verde, on May 5, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
“A joint system for health assessment and evacuation will be put in place to repatriate all passengers, unless their medical condition prevents it,” Health Minister Monica Garcia Gomez told a Madrid news conference.
The 14 Spanish nationals — including one crew member — on board the MV Hondius will be transferred to Madrid’s Gomez Ulla Military Hospital, she added.
Ms. García said the government was monitoring the international alert “minute by minute” to take all steps to prevent any potential spread of the virus.
Earlier on Wednesday (May 6, 2026), Spanish state broadcaster TVE reported the cruise ship was set to dock at the Canary island of Tenerife, citing sources from the country’s Health Ministry. The Ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters‘ requests for comment.
But Ms. García said she had been in “constant contact” with Mr. Clavijo and he would take part in all meetings.
A source close to the Canary Islands presidency earlier said that a medical evacuation flight planned to transfer a doctor from the ship to the archipelago had been cancelled, without giving a reason.
The director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, later said three suspected cases, including the doctor, had been evacuated from the vessel and were en route to the Netherlands for treatment.
The Spanish Health Ministry confirmed on Tuesday (May 5, 2026) evening it would receive the MV Hondius in the Canary Islands “in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles.” “Once in the Canary Islands, medical teams would examine and treat all passengers and crew and transfer them to their countries,” a statement issued earlier said.
“The World Health Organization has explained that Cape Verde is unable to carry out this operation,” the Health Ministry said. “The Canary Islands are the closest location with the necessary capabilities. Spain has a moral and legal obligation to assist these people, among whom are also several Spanish citizens.”
The MV Hondius has been at the centre of an international alert since Saturday (May 2, 2206), when the WHO was informed that three passengers had died and the suspected cause was hantavirus.
The Dutch-flagged ship left Ushuaia in Argentina on April 1 on a voyage through the Atlantic Ocean. It has been anchored off Cape Verde since Sunday (May 3, 2026).
There were 88 passengers and 59 crew, with 23 nationalities, onboard, the WHO said.
With AFP, Reuters inputs
Published – May 06, 2026 12:40 pm IST
