European governments are preparing to send aircraft to evacuate citizens from the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius following a hantavirus outbreak that has killed at least one passenger. The ship is expected to dock in the Canary Islands this weekend.

The outbreak claimed the life of Dutch ornithologist Leo Schilperoord, 70, who had boarded the vessel with his wife after a birdwatching trip to a landfill site in Argentina. Officials have indicated that the couple did not contract the virus from the Argentine location, with authorities examining alternative sources of the infection.

British passengers aboard the virus-affected ship will be required to isolate at a hospital facility upon their return. The MV Hondius operates as a luxury expedition cruise vessel, part of a growing sector of remote travel that presents new health and safety challenges for passengers and crew.

Hantavirus is typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, though the exact source of the outbreak aboard the cruise ship remains under investigation. The incident highlights the risks associated with expedition cruising to remote destinations, where medical resources may be limited and evacuation procedures complex.

The outbreak comes as the cruise industry continues to navigate health protocols and safety measures for passengers traveling to increasingly remote locations around the world.