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The Evacuation of Spanish Passengers The first plane carrying passengers evacuated from a hantavirus-hit cruise ship has departed from Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands for Madrid, where they will go to a military hospital. Spanish nationals on Sunday were the first to leave the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, which remained anchored off Tenerife after arriving hours earlier, and they will be under quarantine after they reach Madrid, Spanish health authorities said. Only Spanish nationals will quarantine in the country. Details of the Hantavirus Outbreak The cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions listed 13 Spanish passengers and one Spanish crew member on board. No one else among the more than 140 people left on the Hondius is showing symptoms of the virus, Spain’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Oceanwide Expeditions said. 8 people on the ship had fallen ill, including 3 who died – a Dutch couple and a German national. 6 of these people are confirmed to have contracted the virus with another 2 suspected cases. The Impact on Public Health All passengers on the luxury cruise ship are being considered high-risk contacts as a precautionary measure, Europe’s public health agency said late on Saturday as part of its rapid scientific advice. The WHO estimated there are 10,000 to 100,000 hantavirus infections each year. Argentina remains the country with the highest number of cases in the Americas, the WHO indicated in December, with a case fatality rate of 32 percent, higher than the average observed for other strains of the virus. The Future Outlook WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived on Saturday evening in Tenerife with Spain’s interior and health ministers and its minister for territorial policy to coordinate the arrival of the ship. Thanking Tenerife residents for their solidarity, Tedros assured them the risk from the ship was low. “I need you to hear me clearly,” he wrote in an open letter to the people of Tenerife. “This is not another COVID.”

The Middle East conflict is having a profound impact on maritime workers, port staff, and shipping crews. The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest maritime routes, remains affected despite a temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran.Maritime traffic through the narrow channel linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman continues to face delays, diversions, and heightened security risks as the situation evolves. Ports and shipping companies are operating amid uncertainty, while cruise ships carrying thousands of tourists have faced disruption across the region.The Guardian is inviting maritime workers, port staff, and shipping crews to share their experiences of how the conflict is affecting their work. The outlet is providing a confidential form and messaging channels for those who wish to contribute their stories anonymously.Key concerns for maritime workers include:Delays and diversions due to the conflictHeightened security risks for vessels and crewsImpact on livelihoods and work operationsThe Guardian's initiative aims to shed light on the human impact of the conflict on those working in the maritime industry.