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#hantavirus, theme 'MV Hondius outbreak'

scienceMay 7, 202684265

The MV Hondius cruise ship reported multiple acute hantavirus cases while at sea, prompting operators to confine about 150 passengers and sail from Cape Verde toward the Canary Islands. Ship operators and Spanish authorities evacuated affected passengers; Spain flew its nationals to Torrejón air base and transferred them to Madrid's Gómez Ulla hospital for monitoring and treatment. The company reports no new passengers are showing symptoms, and public-health agencies including the World Health Organization have scheduled briefings and follow-up surveillance. The incident matters because hantaviruses can cause severe respiratory and renal disease, so international evacuation and hospital monitoring aim to prevent further spread and catch severe cases early.