Canary Islands Leader Refuses Entry to Hantavirus-Stricken Cruise Ship
Regional President Fernando Clavijo has defied Madrid’s humanitarian directive, refusing entry to the MV Hondius as the death toll from the rare Andes hantavirus rises to three.
n a dramatic political standoff, the president of Spain’s Canary Islands has flatly rejected plans to allow the hantavirus-hit luxury cruise ship MV Hondius to dock in the archipelago, sparking a fresh clash with Spain’s central government.
Fernando Clavijo, regional president of the Canary Islands, told local radio stations Onda Cero and COPE this morning:
“I cannot allow [the boat] to enter the Canary Islands. This decision is not based on any technical criteria, nor have we been given enough information to reassure the public or guarantee their safety.”
He has demanded an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The Crisis On Board
The Dutch-flagged expedition vessel MV Hondius left Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 for an Antarctic cruise. An outbreak of Andes hantavirus, a rare and potentially deadly rodent-borne virus, has killed three passengers (a Dutch couple and a German) and sickened at least four others, with seven confirmed or suspected cases among 147 people from 23 countries.
The ship is currently anchored off Cape Verde, which refused to let passengers disembark. Spain’s Health Ministry agreed on May 5 to accept the vessel on humanitarian grounds and at the request of the WHO, with an expected arrival in Tenerife or Gran Canaria within 3–4 days. Two seriously ill crew members are being evacuated by air.
Growing Tension
Clavijo’s strong opposition highlights deep friction between Madrid and the Canary Islands government. Local authorities argue they lack sufficient guarantees on public safety, especially given the virus’s incubation period (up to 8 weeks) and the rare possibility of human-to-human transmission in this specific strain.
The WHO maintains the global public risk remains low, but the situation has already triggered international concern and contact tracing efforts.
The central Spanish government has not yet responded publicly to Clavijo’s rejection, but the ship appears set to head toward the Canaries regardless — setting up a potential standoff at sea. Passengers remain confined aboard.