14 Spanish Nationals from Hantavirus-Stricken Cruise to Quarantine in Madrid Hospital
Madrid, May 7 – Fourteen Spanish nationals who were aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, where several cases of hantavirus have been detected, are to undergo a quarantine period at the Central Defense Hospital Gómez Ulla in Madrid. The group, comprising 13 passengers and one crew member, are currently asymptomatic but will be subject to observation as a precautionary measure. The repatriation process is set to begin on Monday, May 11, following initial medical examinations in Tenerife.
Repatriation Protocol and Medical Assessment
The MV Hondius, carrying individuals of 23 different nationalities, is scheduled to dock in Tenerife this week. Following a first medical assessment at the port of Granadilla de Abona, the Spanish citizens will be transported by military aircraft to the Torrejón de Ardoz air base, and subsequently to the Gómez Ulla Hospital.
Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the Minister of Interior, confirmed the identities of the 14 Spanish nationals, noting their residences: five from Catalonia, three from the Community of Madrid, three from Asturias, one from Castilla y León, one from Galicia, and one from the Valencian Community. Mónica García, the Minister of Health, emphasized that all individuals are asymptomatic, a point she highlighted after an emergency meeting held on Tuesday at La Moncloa Palace to establish the disembarkation protocol for the MV Hondius passengers and crew.
Minister García justified the selection of the military hospital due to its specialized High-Level Isolation and Treatment Units (UATAN), which are equipped to isolate and treat patients, and conduct all necessary tests should the need arise. She underscored the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of those on the cruise, as well as healthcare personnel and the general public, by implementing public health measures designed to prevent transmission from asymptomatic carriers.
Government Communication and Incubation Period
The government plans to contact the 14 Spanish nationals and their families today, Wednesday, to provide reassurance and update them on the crisis management. Ángel Víctor Torres, the Minister of Territorial Policy, will engage with the presidents of the autonomous communities where these individuals reside.
A key aspect yet to be determined is the exact duration of the quarantine period at the Gómez Ulla Hospital. While the incubation period for hantavirus can extend up to 45 days, experts are working to establish the ‘zero day’ from which this preventive health calendar will commence. The Gómez Ulla Hospital gained prominence in 2015 with the establishment of a dedicated unit for highly infectious diseases, serving as a reference point for isolating and treating patients with viruses such as Ebola. The hospital was also utilized in 2020 for the repatriation of Spanish citizens from Wuhan during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Broader Context and International Response
The three hantavirus-infected patients from the cruise have been evacuated to the Netherlands, and the MV Hondius is set to disembark in Tenerife. The situation has also seen some tension between the central government and the Canary Islands regional government, with the latter initially reluctant to host the cruise due to the hantavirus outbreak.
The government’s decision to accept the cruise in the Canary Islands came after a request from the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite the initial concerns, the focus remains on managing the health crisis effectively and ensuring the safety of all involved.
Source: https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20260506/espanoles-crucero-hantavirus-cuarentena-gomez-ulla-madrid/17056345.shtml
