Nearly 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries had been stranded aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship for weeks following an outbreak of Andean hantavirus, a rare but potentially fatal disease that can rarely spread between people through close contact.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the operation, coordinated under the International Health Regulations (IHR), demonstrated the importance of international solidarity during health emergencies.
“We can say with confidence that this phase of the operation was successful,Tedros said during a press conference in Tenerife on Tuesday. “All the passengers have disembarked and left Tenerife and the MV Hondius is now on its way to the Netherlands.”
On May 13, the WHO said 11 cases linked to the ship had been reported, including three deaths. Eight cases were laboratory confirmed as Andean virus infections, two were considered probable, and one remained inconclusive pending further testing in the United States.
The WHO said the global risk remains low and stressed that all confirmed and suspected cases had been isolated and managed under strict medical supervision.
“At the moment there are no signs that we are seeing the start of a major eruption,Tedros said.But of course the situation can change.“
The monitoring phase begins
WHO officials warned that additional cases could still emerge because the virus has a long incubation period. WHO guidance calls for active surveillance and quarantine of passengers and crew repatriated to their home countries for 42 days from 10 May.
“Anyone who becomes symptomatic should be isolated and treated immediately,Tedros said.
The agency has asked countries to regularly report through the IHR network on the health and well-being of passengers and crew.
WHO officials said the Tenerife operation involved more than 120 people disembarking over two days and boarding nine charter flights organized by eight countries. No passengers traveled on commercial flights.
Sara Barragan Montes, WHO technical lead for border health and points of entry, described the response as “a key example of IHR in action.”
“The response has been a key example of IHL in action,” she said during a WHO social media briefing on Wednesday, referring to the international framework governing cooperation during health emergencies.
Emotional strain on passengers
Tedros repeatedly praised Spain for accepting the ship after the WHO determined that Cabo Verde, where three symptomatic passengers had previously been evacuated, lacked the capacity to handle a full disembarkation.
“I thank Prime Minister Sánchez not only for fulfilling Spain’s legal duty under international law, but also for exercising his moral duty to show solidarity with and compassion and kindness for the passengers on the ship,” he said.
WHO officials also highlighted the emotional burden on the passengers for weeks at sea.
“Some of the passengers faced mental breakdowns,” Tedros said, rejecting calls by some commentators for passengers to remain isolated on board the vessel for the duration of the quarantine period.
“Our view was that it would have been inhumane and unnecessary. Yesterday … I even called it cruel to suggest it,” he said.
The ship is now sailing to Rotterdam with 25 crew members, a Dutch doctor and a Dutch nurse. The WHO said it would continue to coordinate with authorities until the vessel is safely disinfected and all remaining personnel disembark.
