Protests Have Broken Out In The Canaries Over The Arrival Of A Liner Carrying Hantavirus
- 9.05.2026, 10:07
Port workers gathered under the Canary Islands parliament.
The expedition liner Hondius with an outbreak of a deadly virus on board is heading for the Canary Islands. Spanish authorities are preparing unprecedented security measures and strict quarantine for all passengers, although protests by port workers have already emerged on the island.
According to specialized maritime portal The Maritime Executive and BBC.
The ship is now carrying 150 people and doctors have recorded a rare case: hantavirus has begun to be transmitted directly from person to person. The infection is usually spread by rats.
A strain of the virus called Andes is circulating in Argentina. It was there, in the port of Ushuaia, that passengers boarded the ship. It is the southernmost point of the country and a famous cruise center.
WHO statistics so far are as follows:
three passengers have already died;
five have acute symptoms of the disease;
all other crew members are under observation.
The virus hits the lungs, suppressing breathing and killing quickly. Tracing the source of infection is extremely difficult, and the incubation period lasts for weeks.
Isolation plan: special rooms and PCR tests
Madrid has agreed to give the ships a port of refuge in the Canaries. However, disembarkation conditions will be strict: all passengers will immediately be sent to mandatory quarantine.
They will be received by the Gomez Ulla Central Defense Hospital in the Spanish capital. People will be locked in separate wards and medics will regularly check them for fever. Family visits are completely banned.
Everyone will receive a PCR test immediately on arrival and the procedure will be repeated seven days later. If a passenger is found to have a high fever or shortness of breath, he or she will be transferred to a negative pressure isolation room. These are special boxes with separate air circulation.
"The emotional well-being of those in quarantine will be ensured by maintaining electronic communication with their families and loved ones," Spain's health ministry said in a statement.
Port Workers Protest
The arrival of the liner is not to everyone's liking. Port workers have gathered under the Canary Islands parliament demanding protection.
Joana Batista from the local union voiced the protesters' demands:
"We don't like the idea of being allowed to work in the port without special security measures or information when a contaminated boat is approaching."
Workers are radicalized and some have already threatened to physically block the ship's path to the dock. Workers are demanding detailed instructions and special equipment for the job.