Quarantined Cruise Ship Carrying Americans Arrives as Deadly Outbreak Sparks Global Fears

Liberty Check

• A cruise ship linked to a deadly Hantavirus outbreak has arrived off Spain’s coast, with multiple Americans aboard awaiting evacuation under strict health protocols
• The WHO director insists public risk remains low, but the U.S. is transferring American passengers to a military quarantine facility in Nebraska
• Three passengers have died from the Andes strain of Hantavirus, raising questions about the true severity and preparedness of global health authorities

The cruise ship at the center of a deadly Hantavirus outbreak arrived early Sunday off the Spanish island of Tenerife, where the evacuation of passengers is expected to begin under tight health supervision. The MV Hondius is carrying multiple Americans who will soon be transferred to U.S. military facilities for quarantine.

Spanish health authorities will test passengers to ensure they are asymptomatic before allowing them to be transported ashore in small boats. Evacuation is expected to begin between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. local time, with Spanish nationals disembarking first, followed by passengers of other nationalities.

American passengers will be flown to a military base in Nebraska for quarantine and monitoring, according to U.S. government plans. The ship set course for Spain on Wednesday from the coast of Cape Verde after the WHO and European Union requested assistance in managing the outbreak.

The arrival comes hours after World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus landed on the island. The WHO said Friday that eight people aboard the ship had fallen ill, including three who died from the Andes strain of Hantavirus.

In a statement Saturday, Ghebreyesus attempted to downplay concerns, insisting the public health risk remains low.

“I know you are worried. I know that when you hear the word ‘outbreak’ and watch a ship sail toward your shores, memories surface that none of us have fully put to rest,” he said.

“The pain of 2020 is still real, and I do not dismiss it for a single moment. But I need you to hear me clearly: this is not another COVID-19. The current public health risk from Hantavirus remains low. My colleagues and I have said this unequivocally, and I will say it again to you now,” he continued.

Despite these reassurances, the WHO chief acknowledged the severity of the virus identified aboard the ship. The Andes strain of Hantavirus can be particularly dangerous, and three lives have already been lost.

“Three people have lost their lives, and our hearts go out to their families,” he wrote, again claiming that the public health risk posed by the virus remained low.

About 30 crew members are expected to remain on board as the vessel continues to the Netherlands, where it will be disinfected. Meanwhile, passengers will be taken to the island’s main airport and flown back to their home countries under strict health protocols.

The outbreak has raised serious questions about safety protocols aboard cruise ships and the adequacy of global health response systems. American passengers deserve better protection and transparency from international health organizations that repeatedly assured the public during past crises.

Our freedoms depend on staying vigilant.