Amid the hantavirus outbreak, which has killed three people so far, fears from an island leader such as MV Hondius approaching docking.
The president of the Canary Islands is outraged by Spain’s decision to allow the vessel MV Hondius to dock in the archipelago.
The Hantavirus outbreak was first reported on the Dutch-based polar cruise ship MV Hondiuswhich sailed between Argentina and Cape Verde on Sunday 3 May 2026.
The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo appeared on the radio COPE on 6 May 2026.
The president revealed that he had requested an emergency meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to discuss whether the cruise ship could dock at the islands.
“This decision is not based on any technical criteria, nor is there sufficient information to reassure the public or guarantee their safety,” said the president of the Canary Islands.
The cruise ship with 150 passengers on board, which started off the Argentine coast about three weeks ago, is due to dock on the island of Tenerife.
MV Hondius sailing in Cape Verde, where the authorities have not issued docking orders due to fears of a virus outbreak in the local population.
According to the latest update from the WHO, seven cases of hantavirus have been confirmed among 221 passengers on board the cruise, with two people infected and five more under screening.
