Two Indian nationals aboard the Dutch ship MV Hondius, which was detained off the Spanish coast due to suspected hantavirus infection, are safe. The Indian Embassy in Madrid said in a press release that the two Indians are asymptomatic and healthy.
150 people on ship
According to the embassy, the Dutch-flagged ship MV Hondius was carrying approximately 150 people, including two Indian nationals. The ship was docked off the coast of Spain’s Canary Islands in connection with the hantavirus outbreak. Passengers were later disembarked in accordance with protocols established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Spanish authorities.
Hantavirus scare: India confirms 2 of its national were on MV Hondius, asymptomatic, quarantined https://t.co/xjWTtfqkSf
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 10, 2026Crew members were Indian citizens
Citing Spain’s National Centre for Emergency Monitoring and Coordination (CENEM), the embassy said the two Indian nationals were crew members of the ship. As a precautionary measure, they have been sent to the Netherlands, where they will be quarantined under health safety protocols. The Indian Embassy said the Ambassador is in constant touch with the Spanish authorities and both the Indian nationals and their safety and health are being monitored.
What is Hantavirus?
According to specialists, virus is not as much as dangerous like Corona. It spreads when humans come into contact with rats or squirrels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rats moving in and out of homes pose a risk of transmitting the Hantavirus. Even healthy individuals who come into contact with the Hantavirus are at risk of becoming infected.
Symptoms of Hantavirus
- Hantavirus does not spread from one person to another.
- It can spread by touching rat feces, urine, etc., and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- The infected person experiences fever, headache, body aches, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- If treatment is delayed, the infected person’s lungs may become filled with fluid, causing difficulty breathing.
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Edited by: Bhoomi Goyal
