Australian authorities are working to bring four Australians and one Australian permanent resident home from the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius, which is scheduled to arrive in Tenerife this weekend. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed that officials are traveling to the Spanish island ahead of the Dutch-flagged expedition vessel's expected arrival on Sunday local time, as plans for passenger repatriation are developed.
No symptoms reported yet
DFAT stated that none of the Australians or permanent residents have shown symptoms of the virus so far. A DFAT spokesperson said on Saturday: “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. Our priority is the safety of the community.”
The ship has been stranded off the coast of Cape Verde following a deadly outbreak of hantavirus, which has been linked to at least three deaths and multiple serious illnesses onboard. Spanish authorities are preparing to conduct a full epidemiological investigation and disinfect the vessel upon its arrival in Tenerife.
Repatriation plans and health protocols
Passengers will not be permitted to remain in Spain or book commercial flights home. Each country is expected to organize separate repatriation arrangements for its nationals. Australian health authorities are now coordinating with states and territories on quarantine, testing, and health monitoring protocols for the returning travelers, under the guidance of the Australian Centre for Disease Control.
Despite growing concern over the outbreak, authorities emphasize that the virus does not spread like COVID-19 or influenza. Human-to-human transmission is considered rare and has only been observed in cases involving close, prolonged contact.
Global response and virus strain
The World Health Organisation is overseeing the international response and currently assesses the risk to the wider global population as “low.” Laboratory testing and genetic sequencing are ongoing to determine the exact hantavirus strain involved. Health authorities suspect the Andes virus, a rare strain linked to limited human-to-human transmission in parts of South America.
The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed Argentina last month on an expedition voyage through Antarctica and remote Atlantic islands before the outbreak emerged. Three people have died from the ship, including a Dutch couple and a German national.
Spanish outlet El Pais has previously reported that one Australian passenger aboard the MV Hondius has already returned home after disembarking in St Helena alongside 22 other passengers.
