Residents of Spain’s Canary Islands are expressing anxiety as a cruise vessel affected by a hantavirus outbreak prepares to arrive this weekend, bringing back memories of the COVID-19 quarantine measures they endured.
The cruise ship MV Hondius, with 150 individuals on board, is scheduled to arrive at Tenerife on Saturday. Spain has agreed to accept the vessel following requests from the World Health Organization, despite objections from local authorities.
The island chain was among Europe’s earliest locations to implement quarantine protocols during the pandemic’s initial phase. In February 2020, more than 700 tourists were confined to a Tenerife hotel for two weeks when officials sealed the facility to contain virus transmission, occurring weeks before the disease spread throughout Europe.
The archipelago has previously dealt with other health crises, including a 2014 Ebola outbreak, which have impacted the tourism-dependent economy. Local officials have also expressed frustration about handling migration pressures from Western Africa.
“We are a community that’s already quite flexible when it comes to helping others and being accommodating to people, but I think this is excessive,” said local resident Margarita Maria, 62. “People are scared, people are worried. Spain is a huge country with plenty of ports where the cruise ship could go.”
According to the World Health Organization, public risk remains minimal, and the strain identified among passengers can only transmit between people through extended, close contact.
However, an unnamed nurse reported that news of the ship’s arrival has sparked concerns about potential lockdowns of medical facilities and hospitals on Tenerife.
“It will be just like Covid … People are worried about their children, elderly relatives and the vulnerable,” the nurse said, adding that the islands’ quarantine protocol for viruses, if one was declared, would affect schools and healthcare centres.
Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia announced Wednesday that all remaining passengers aboard the vessel showed no disease symptoms and would return to their home countries. The 14 Spanish nationals on board will be transported to a Madrid hospital for quarantine.
Some locals criticized that the Canaries’ reputation as a secure destination means it consistently bears responsibilities that other tourist areas avoid.
“Tourist destinations competing with the Canary Islands in the international market, such as Morocco, have not been taken into account, and the decision has been made to bring the cruise ship to the Canary Islands – there must be a reason for that,” said Jorge Marichal, president of Tenerife’s hotels association, Ashotel.
Regional tourism minister Lope Afonso stated that Madrid has not clearly communicated expectations for the archipelago, making it challenging to reassure the tourism sector.
Some islanders expressed worry about potential impacts on Pope Leo’s planned June visit to the Canaries.
“Can you imagine the Pope with hantavirus? That’s a headline we don’t want,” local comedian Omayra Cazorla said on Instagram.
