Two Indian crew members aboard a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak have been evacuated to the Netherlands for quarantine and observation, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The Indians were part of the crew on the Dutch-flagged vessel MV Hondius, which recently reported multiple cases of the rare but potentially deadly virus. According to information shared by the Indian Embassy in Madrid, both individuals were safely evacuated after the ship reached Spain’s Canary Islands and are now under strict medical supervision in the Netherlands.
Authorities said the evacuation was carried out as per international health protocols laid down by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Spanish authorities. All passengers and crew members disembarked in phases, depending on nationality, to ensure safe handling of potential infections.
Reassuringly, both Indian nationals are reported to be healthy and asymptomatic so far. The embassy stated that they are being closely monitored in quarantine facilities as a precautionary measure, given the seriousness of the outbreak.
The outbreak aboard the cruise ship has triggered global concern after several passengers fell ill. Reports indicate that at least a few confirmed and suspected cases were detected, with multiple deaths linked to the infection. The virus involved is believed to be the Andes strain of hantavirus, which is rare and can cause severe respiratory illness in humans.
The MV Hondius, carrying passengers and crew from multiple countries, had been stranded at sea before reaching the Canary Islands, where large-scale evacuation and repatriation efforts began. Several countries, including the United States and European nations, have also arranged for their citizens to be flown back under strict medical protocols.
Health authorities worldwide, including those in India, are closely monitoring the situation. Experts have clarified that hantavirus is usually transmitted through contact with infected rodent droppings, and human-to-human transmission is extremely rare, though not impossible in certain strains.
Officials emphasised that there is no immediate threat to India, but precautionary measures and surveillance remain in place. The incident has once again highlighted the challenges of managing infectious disease outbreaks in confined environments such as cruise ships, where rapid spread can pose serious risks.
