Last hantavirus patient from cruise ship MV Hondius discharged, ending hospital phase of outbreak
The final patient infected with hantavirus from the MV Hondius cruise ship has been discharged from Madrid's Gómez Ulla hospital, health authorities said. No one remains hospitalized from the outbreak that killed three people.
Onboard detection and evacuation
On May 10, 2026, a French passenger aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius tested positive for hantavirus, prompting the quarantine of all potentially exposed individuals. Later that day, 14 Spanish nationals – 13 passengers and a crew member – were evacuated to Tenerife and then transferred to the High-Level Isolation Unit at Madrid's Hospital Central de la Defensa Gómez Ulla. Health authorities established May 10 as day zero of the quarantine period. Three people lost their lives in the outbreak.
Hospitalization, testing and home quarantine
Two of the 14 Spaniards tested positive for the virus at separate moments. The first, a 70-year-old man, was admitted to the UATAN on May 11, a day after arrival, and began treatment. He experienced mild respiratory distress and fever but was discharged on June 4 after recovery. The second positive patient, whose symptoms were limited to a low-grade fever, remained hospitalized until June 16. The other 12 individuals, classified as contacts, spent four weeks in hospital isolation with weekly PCR tests that all returned negative. On June 7, they were discharged and began home quarantine. Five Catalans among them left the hospital on June 15; the rest were expected home by June 16. They must remain asymptomatic and will provide a final PCR sample around June 22, with analysis by the National Center for Microbiology.
- 14 Spanish nationals evacuated from MV Hondius and admitted to Gómez Ulla hospital; day 0 of quarantine
- First Spanish positive case, a 70-year-old man, enters high-level isolation unit
- First positive patient discharged after recovery
- 12 Spanish contacts discharged from hospital to home quarantine
- Last positive patient discharged; no hospitalized cases remain
- Expected date for contacts' final PCR test and release if negative
Outbreak wrap-up
As of June 16, the hospital phase of the MV Hondius outbreak has concluded. No patients remain at Gómez Ulla. The 12 contacts await the final PCR to resume normal activities. Spanish health authorities confirmed the end of the hospital episode.
