Australian officials are en route to the island of Tenerife to assist in the repatriation of four Australian citizens and one permanent resident aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak. The vessel is scheduled to dock on the Spanish-controlled island on Sunday morning local time (2:30 pm AEST), where authorities will be standing by.
Disembarkation and Repatriation Plans
Upon arrival, passengers will be transported ashore to an industrial port in sealed, guarded vehicles and escorted through a completely cordoned-off corridor. From there, they will be repatriated directly to their home countries, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Passengers are not permitted to remain on the island or take commercial flights, meaning their home countries are expected to facilitate their return.
The World Health Organisation confirmed a deadly outbreak of hantavirus on the ship, resulting in at least three deaths and multiple serious illnesses. While none of the Australian passengers have displayed symptoms, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has sent consular officials to Tenerife to evaluate repatriation plans.
A DFAT spokesperson said: "DFAT consular officials are travelling to Tenerife to provide consular assistance to them and coordinate response efforts with local authorities and partner countries. We are considering options for the safe repatriation of the four Australians and permanent resident. Our priority is the safety of the community."
Logistical Challenges
Hours before the vessel was expected to dock, the operation faced disruption after it emerged that some countries' repatriation planes would not arrive on time. Canary Islands President Fernando Batlle stated that the planes had been given a specific window to arrive and collect passengers due to strict health protocols. He singled out Australia and the Netherlands, noting that the delayed flights would prolong the operation and endanger Tenerife's residents.
President Batlle told reporters he had been assured by the WHO and the Spanish government that the passenger transfer would be completed within a day or so, but he has not received proof of that. Consequently, he has cancelled the ship's authority to dock at the Port of Granadilla. However, as the ship approaches the coastline, the Spanish Government may override this decision.
The Daily Mail has contacted DFAT for an update on the situation.
Operator's Statement
Cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said passengers will disembark using Zodiac craft or launch boats, with a maximum of five passengers per Zodiac or ten per launch boat. The sequence of disembarkation will be coordinated with arriving repatriation flights. Luggage will remain on board and will be returned to passengers later. After passengers and limited crew have disembarked, the MV Hondius will bunker and take on supplies at Santa Cruz, Tenerife, before transiting to Rotterdam, Netherlands, with the remaining crew.
About Hantavirus
Hantavirus is transmitted to humans through infected wild rodents, such as mice or rats, and can cause life-threatening illness. It typically spreads when people inhale contaminated residue from rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between people. However, the Andes strain detected in this outbreak may be capable of human-to-human transmission in rare cases. Symptoms, including fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea, usually appear between one and eight weeks after exposure. There is no known cure.
