Passengers who were stuck on a cruise ship at the centre of a deadly hantavirus outbreak have disembarked and are on a plane en route to Canada.
The passengers wore protective gear as they climbed the stairs onto the plane, which is bound for the Saguenay-Bagotville Airport more than two hours outside of Quebec City.
Global Affairs Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada did not immediately respond to requests for comment about plans for the passengers when they arrive.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship's owner, says there were four Canadians among the roughly 130 other asymptomatic passengers on board the MV Hondius when it reached port this morning.
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Oceanwide Expeditions says representatives from a number of groups, including the World Health Organization, screened passengers at the port.
Three people have died since the outbreak began, and five passengers who left the ship are infected with hantavirus, which can cause life-threatening illness.
Hantavirus usually spreads when people inhale contaminated residue of rodent droppings and isn’t easily transmitted between people. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. Symptoms usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.
Several Canadians have been told to isolate after coming into contact with infected passengers.
A couple from the Grey Bruce region of Ontario disembarked from the ship in late April before the outbreak was declared and have showed no symptoms.
Four other Canadians — from Quebec, Alberta and Ontario — were not on the ship but may have come into contact with someone infected with hantavirus while flying, the federal government said.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sought to reassure the public Sunday, repeating that the risk for the general public from the outbreak is low.
Even so, those disembarking and personnel working at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife wore protective gear during the evacuation process, including face masks, hazmat suits and respirators. Video obtained by The Associated Press showed passengers on the tarmac wearing similar suits and being sprayed down with disinfectant.
Passengers and crew members disembarking are leaving behind their luggage, and are allowed to take only a small bag with essential items, a cellphone, a charger, and documentation.
Some crew, as well as the body of a passenger who died on board, will remain on the ship, which will sail on to Rotterdam, Netherlands.
There, it will undergo disinfection, Spanish authorities said. The expected sailing time to Rotterdam is around five days, the cruise company said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 10, 2026.
— With files from The Associated Press.
