The cruise ship has now left Cape Verde for the Canary Islands (Image: Getty)
Tensions are escalating in the Canary Islands as a cruise ship carrying passengers affected by a rare viral outbreak continues its course towards the archipelago. The vessel, the MV Hondius, has reportedly now left Cape Verde after several days of medical evacuations and is now expected to reach Tenerife in about three days. On board, authorities have confirmed a hantavirus outbreak that has already caused three deaths and triggered international health monitoring.
The planned docking has sparked a political and public backlash in the Canary Islands. Regional president Fernando Clavijo has warned that the situation could pose a serious risk to local health services and demanded more transparency from Madrid before any disembarkation takes place. He told Spanish radio station Onda Cero earlier today: “We have no information whatsoever nor any official document from the government.
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Tenerife is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands (Image: Getty)
“Without having information, I cannot allow them to enter the Canary Islands, because we don’t know what we are dealing with,” added the territory’s president.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Clavijo also wrote: “Canarias always acts with responsibility, but it cannot accept decisions taken behind the backs of the Canary Islands institutions and without sufficient information to the population.”
Spain’s health ministry, led by Mónica García, however, insists the operation is safe and said the port has the necessary infrastructure to handle the situation under strict medical protocols.
Public anger is also growing across the islands, with residents expressing fear over the possible strain on already stretched hospitals.
On TikTok, some local residents in the Canary Islands have been calling for a protest on Friday, May 8. One post calls for residents on the Canary Islands to “take to the streets” adding that “enough is enough.” The image shows a massive cruise ship with a rat crossed out approaching and a wave of people protesting as it comes closer. They are holding the Canary Islands flag, alongside banners reading “health is not negotiable” and “the Canary Islands must be respected.”
In the comments, some users have stated that they plan to meet for a protest at Plaza de España on Friday, May 8 at 6:30pm.
At the same time, some residents have expressed concern about the potential impact on the islands’ healthcare system, which they describe as already under strain.
In a public Facebook group called Canarias Informa, which has more than 22,000 members, those living in the Canary Islands have expressed their concerns as to the planned arrival of the ship, with some warning that local hospitals are already facing pressure and others arguing that the situation highlights broader systemic challenges in public services.
The group’s administrator said the islands were facing “a severe crisis in its public healthcare system”, citing issues including long waiting times for specialist appointments, delays for diagnostic tests and surgery, and shortages of medical staff.
Another person wrote: “Here in Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz, the hospitals are already overwhelmed with local patients, and on top of that this cruise ship is coming – I don’t think that’s a good idea, because at the end of the day, we Canarians come first.”
Jake Rosmarin has been sharing his experience aboard the hantavirus-stricken ship (Image: Jake Rosmarin)
Boston travel influencer, Jake Rosmarin, is among the passengers trapped onboard the MV Hondius cruise ship amid the deadly hantavirus outbreak.
Two days ago, he released an emotional video to his social media. In the tearful Instagram video he said: “I am currently on board the MV Hondius, and what’s happening right now is very real for all of us here.
“We’re not just a story, we’re not just headlines, we’re people. People with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home.”
He continued: “There’s a lot of uncertainty, and that’s the hardest part. All we want right now is to feel safe, to have clarity and to get home.
“So if you’re seeing coverage about this, just remember that there are real people behind it, and that this isn’t something happening somewhere far away. It’s happening to us, right now.”
Rosmarin since shared an updated statement with the media.
He said: “Other than the two ill passengers that have already been referenced in the media, everyone else onboard is doing well and remains in good spirits.
“We are hopeful that this situation will be resolved soon.”
He added: “Oceanwide Expeditions and the crew have been doing everything within their ability to keep passengers safe, informed, and as comfortable as possible during this time.
“These ships operate with strict protocols and a strong emphasis on cleanliness, especially given the remote and environmentally sensitive regions they visit, which require high levels of biosecurity. The vessel is maintained to a very high standard, and suggestions that it is unclear are not accurate.”
