Australians Evacuated From Hantavirus-Hit Cruise Ship: Latest Updates
- A group of Australians is being repatriated from Spain's Canary Islands following a hantavirus outbreak aboard the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius.
- According to reporting from SBS Australia, the repatriated group consists of four Australian citizens, one permanent resident, and one New Zealand national.
- The outbreak on the MV Hondius has seen three passengers die, while five other individuals who were evacuated earlier in the process have fallen ill.
A group of Australians is being repatriated from Spain’s Canary Islands following a hantavirus outbreak aboard the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius. The medical emergency has resulted in three deaths and several illnesses among passengers, prompting a coordinated evacuation effort by the Australian government.
According to reporting from SBS Australia, the repatriated group consists of four Australian citizens, one permanent resident, and one New Zealand national. These individuals, who hail from New South Wales and Queensland, are scheduled to depart Tenerife on a government-supported charter flight arriving in Perth at approximately 3 a.m. AEST on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
The outbreak on the MV Hondius has seen three passengers die, while five other individuals who were evacuated earlier in the process have fallen ill. While the repatriated group currently shows no symptoms of hantavirus, strict health protocols are being implemented to prevent any potential community transmission.
Medical personnel will accompany the charter flight to Perth to monitor the passengers. Upon arrival, the individuals will be placed in quarantine at medical facilities. These quarantine measures are being managed by state governments, with final details still being determined as of May 11, 2026.
In addition to the measures in Perth, reporting from The Guardian indicates that passengers from the virus-hit ship will be assessed at a new biocontainment facility in Sydney.
The evacuation process began on Sunday, May 10, 2026, with the first passengers disembarking from the vessel. The Australian group was among the final evacuees to leave the ship as they awaited the arrival of the dedicated charter flight.
Environment Minister Murray Watt addressed the situation on May 11, 2026, during an appearance on ABC Breakfast, describing the experience of the passengers.
It’s obviously a terrible situation that these people are in, going on a cruise expecting to have a nice holiday and finding themselves in this situationMurray Watt, Environment Minister
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has been coordinating the response effort through officials located in both Canberra, and Tenerife. A federal government spokesperson emphasized the priority of the operation during the crisis.
The Australian government’s number one priority is the safety of passengers and the Australian communityFederal government spokesperson
The use of a biocontainment facility and state-managed quarantine highlights the public health caution surrounding hantavirus, a viral infection that can cause severe respiratory distress. The coordination between federal and state authorities aims to ensure that all repatriated passengers receive necessary medical care while safeguarding the broader community from potential exposure.