Two Indian crew members aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius are safe and showing no symptoms after a hantavirus-related health alert prompted the vessel to anchor near Spain’s Canary Islands, the Indian Embassy in Madrid confirmed on Sunday.
The ship, carrying nearly 150 people, came under international health surveillance following reports of a possible hantavirus outbreak onboard. After complying with guidelines issued by the World Health Organization and Spanish authorities, passengers were permitted to disembark.
The embassy stated that the two Indian nationals, both crew members, have since been transferred to the Netherlands for quarantine and routine medical observation under established safety procedures.
In an official statement issued on May 10, the embassy said the two individuals remain “healthy and asymptomatic.” It also noted that Indian officials are maintaining close coordination with Spanish authorities and continuing to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of the Indian nationals involved.
The incident has drawn global attention amid increased vigilance over hantavirus infections after reports connected to the cruise vessel led European health agencies to adopt precautionary measures.
Hantavirus is a virus spread primarily through rodents and, in uncommon cases, can lead to serious respiratory illness. Health experts, however, have indicated that there is currently no immediate risk to public health in India.
