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Spain Evacuates Ship, WHO Reports Low Andes Virus Risk

5/13/2026

Summary

Tedros Monitors Evacuation

Spain evacuated 120 passengers from ship MV Hondius, with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus saying the risk remains low.
Ghebreyesus told reporters with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez that 11 cases, including three deaths, were reported, nine confirmed as Andes virus.
WHO recommends a 42-day monitoring period ending June 21 for all evacuees, warning of further cases, as the ship left Tenerife on May 11 for Rotterdam while the European Commission coordinates monitoring.

Summary

Kennedy Declares Control

Sixteen Hondius passengers are in Nebraska’s National Quarantine Center while two are in a biocontainment unit in Atlanta.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared the situation under control with no public-health threat.
Argentine health officials will test rodents in Ushuaia to locate the virus source before the ship departed on April 1.

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Tedros Monitors Evacuation

Spain evacuated 120 passengers from ship MV Hondius, with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus saying the risk remains low.
Ghebreyesus told reporters with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez that 11 cases, including three deaths, were reported, nine confirmed as Andes virus.
WHO recommends a 42-day monitoring period ending June 21 for all evacuees, warning of further cases, as the ship left Tenerife on May 11 for Rotterdam while the European Commission coordinates monitoring.

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