Authorities working to return Irish citizens from virus-hit cruise ship – Martin

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

The Government will do everything possible to make sure Irish citizens on a hantavirus-hit cruise ship get home safely, the Taoiseach has said.

Tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions said two Irish nationals are on board the MV Hondius, which is at the centre of an outbreak of the disease.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said eight cases of the virus have been reported, including three deaths.

The organisation said it is working with all of the countries who have passengers on board the MV Hondius on plans for their passage home.

Did you know? #Hantaviruses are a group zoonotic viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans.
Learn how to prevent it and what to do during an outbreak. Watch this explainer👇🏾 pic.twitter.com/E3cDUCp3om

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 5, 2026

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said health authorities are “working actively” to bring the Irish citizens home.

Asked if they will have to quarantine he said: “Health Service Executive and public health protocols will apply. Obviously, quarantine and isolation will be part of that.”

He added: “We have a duty of care to our citizens, we want our citizens to come back in a safe way, and we will do everything possible to facilitate that. That’s our obligation.”

He said the ship is due to dock in Tenerife “shortly”, adding that “we’ll see progress from then onwards and that’s important”.