Passengers rescued from the hantavirus-infected cruise ship are being transported to a specialized hospital ward equipped to handle situations involving radioactive leaks. The MV Hondius, a luxury cruise vessel that departed from Argentina a month ago and is currently near Cape Verde, has been hit by the rare rat-borne disease, resulting in three fatalities and several others falling sick. Evacuations from the ship have commenced, with one British individual among three taken to the Netherlands for medical care, accompanied by workers in hazmat suits.
Spain has announced that its 14 citizens aboard the ship will be moved to the High-Level Isolation Unit (UAAN) at the Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital in Madrid if they display any symptoms. This military-grade facility is specifically designed to handle outbreaks of tropical and uncommon diseases, including haemorrhagic fevers and respiratory illnesses, as well as incidents involving extremely hazardous biological or radioactive substances. The evacuation process will start once the passengers disembark at the port of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife for initial medical assessment before being airlifted by military planes to the Torrejón de Ardoz air base.
Upon arrival, they will be transferred to the UAAN situated on the 22nd floor of the Madrid hospital, featuring seven inpatient beds and a BSL-3 biosafety level laboratory to ensure strict isolation. Access to the unit is separate from public entrances, with a dedicated bed lift for entry. The rooms are equipped like ICU bays, with amenities such as a vacuum pressure system, hyperchlorinated water toilets, and hydrogen peroxide disinfectants.
Each room is linked to an airlock system and decontamination zones, with distinct corridors for personnel, clean equipment, and contaminated materials. Healthcare staff exiting the isolation areas must pass through decontamination stations with specific procedures for safe personal protective equipment (PPE) removal.
Colonel Antonio Fé Marques, the unit’s head, established the facility after the 2014 Ebola crisis to address potential health threats. Spain’s Health Minister, Mónica García, stated that symptomatic patients will be directly admitted to isolation units, while asymptomatic passengers will be housed in separate areas within the same hospital complex.
Defense Minister Margarita Robles emphasized that quarantine would be voluntary, requiring citizens to sign an informed consent form due to the restrictions on personal freedom. The ship’s log lists 19 British passengers and four crew members, with two British nationals who disembarked in late April advised to self-isolate for 45 days, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).