Passengers and crew members of the MV Hondius are being repatriated after a devastating hantavirus outbreak claimed the lives of three individuals. The complex operation, involving military and government planes, facilitated the safe return of up to 150 evacuees from Spain’s Canary Islands. Evacuation procedures commenced as passengers donned blue medical suits and breathing masks to disembark from the MV Hondius onto smaller boats. These boats carefully navigated to a small industrial port in Tenerife, where evacuees boarded Spanish army buses. A protective barrier was installed to separate the drivers from the passengers. Medical personnel equipped with protective gear diligently sprayed evacuees down with disinfectant on the tarmac prior to their departure on charter flights. Following their arrival, the World Health Organization recommended, though did not mandate, a 42-day quarantine for the repatriates. This quarantine involves active follow-up and daily symptom checks, including monitoring for fever. Concerns have arisen among health experts regarding adherence to isolation protocols, particularly over the stringent 42-day duration. The WHO chief has indicated that the organization does not enforce its guidance. Countries around the world are employing various strategies to manage the quarantine process. In the United Kingdom, authorities have indicated that evacuees will be tested at Arrowe Park hospital, followed by an initial 72-hour stay with further isolation arrangements to be evaluated. Australia is preparing to transport evacuees to a specialized hospital designed for high-consequence infectious diseases. In France, all evacuees have been placed under strict isolation, with authorities emphasizing the need for robust public health measures. Stricter quarantine regulations have been observed in certain countries. A male evacuee in Greece will be subjected to a 45-day mandatory hospital quarantine in a specially designed negative-pressure chamber. In Spain, numerous citizens are set to receive treatment in biosafety isolation beds at military medical facilities. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preparing for the arrival of 17 American nationals and a British individual at a facility in Nebraska, where their risk for spreading the virus will be assessed. Following their assessment, these individuals may choose to remain in Nebraska or return home while their conditions are monitored by local health agencies. Complications arise due to reports of some Americans who returned to the U.S. after disembarking in Saint Helena before the outbreak was confirmed. The infected ship will undergo a thorough inspection for any potential rodent carriers and will be disinfected per WHO guidelines. Health officials will ensure the safety of medical personnel involved in these procedures through the required use of personal protective equipment. Although three passengers lost their lives due to the outbreak, officials maintain that the public health risk remains low, assuring the public that this situation does not equate to another pandemic like Covid-19. Reference: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/11/hantavirus-outbreak-cruise-ship-cases-quarantine-isolation-passengers-death-rate-spread-risk-explained