A Madrid court has ordered 14 Spanish nationals who traveled on the cruise ship MV Hondius to undergo a mandatory quarantine period of up to 14 days. This decision follows a directive from Spain’s Ministry of Health aimed at controlling the potential spread of hantavirus.
The quarantine will take place at a central military hospital, where passengers will be tested for the virus upon arrival. If initial tests return negative, a second test will be conducted after seven days. Those who test negative again will be released from quarantine.
The situation escalated on May 8 when two cases of hantavirus were reported in Spain and on Tristan da Cunha, an island in the South Atlantic. These cases are not directly linked to the MV Hondius passengers but are associated with individuals who disembarked the ship earlier.
On May 4, three fatalities were reported aboard the MV Hondius due to a hantavirus outbreak. Preliminary investigations suggest that a Dutch couple contracted the virus in South America before boarding the cruise, potentially spreading it to other passengers. Both individuals later succumbed to the illness.
The cruise ship is carrying 149 passengers from 23 different countries, including five Ukrainians. Currently, there are no reports of deteriorating health among them.
Initial plans to dock the MV Hondius in the Canary Islands faced opposition from local authorities, including Fernando Clavijo, the archipelago’s government head.
Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause severe health issues, including lung, heart, and kidney complications. Rodents are known carriers of this infection, with the World Health Organization noting that certain strains can have a mortality rate as high as 50%.
Transmission typically occurs through contact with the urine, saliva, or feces of infected rodents. The virus can also be inhaled from contaminated dust in poorly ventilated areas.
A court in Madrid has mandated a 14-day quarantine for Spanish passengers of the MV Hondius following a hantavirus outbreak that resulted in three deaths. Testing will be conducted to monitor the health of those affected, as authorities work to manage the situation amid rising concerns over the virus.
Source: El Pais