Almost one month after the first passenger died from hantavirus, the cruise ship MV Hondius has finally arrived near Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands.

Spanish authorities have been preparing for weeks for the ship's arrival at the Port of Granadilla. The ship has over 100 passengers and crew members who are expected to leave safely and return to their home countries.

The ship will not dock immediately, as officials have created a one-nautical-mile security zone around the vessel to keep it isolated as it approaches the island. Even after reaching the port area, the ship will remain anchored offshore to continue quarantine procedures. However, the people of the Island are not happy, as they fear a COVID-19-like situation that would ruin the region’s tourism.

Protests Erupt in Canary Islands

Residents of the islands are not happy with the arrival of the hantavirus-affected cruise ship. They are worried about another COVID-19-like pandemic that previously devastated tourism on the islands.

Several islanders and dock workers marched to the parliament building, chanting, "We want work, not illness," according to reports. They also accused local officials of putting the island at risk due to the fatal hantavirus case.

The protesters carried whistles and air horns and displayed boards reading, "Without protocol, no safety," and "Tenerife deserves respect! We are not second class!"

Spain Launches Large-Scale Safety Operation

Spain's Health Minister, Mónica García, described the operation as "unprecedented" because it involves coordination between 23 countries.

Authorities say the plan has been carefully organized to prevent the spread of the rare Andes strain of hantavirus and to calm fears among local residents.

The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, said he would not feel relaxed until all passengers and crew had safely left the islands. Health officials continue to stress that the risk to the public remains low.

"We believe that alarmism, misinformation, and confusion go against the basic principles of protecting public health," García said.

Heavy Security Measures at Tenerife Port

The Spanish government has implemented strict security measures around the Port of Granadilla before the ship's arrival. Spain's military police and emergency response teams set up large reception tents, while access to the waterfront was heavily restricted.

Medical teams are expected to board the MV Hondius around 07:00 local time on Sunday to examine everyone on board for possible symptoms of hantavirus. According to the latest reports, no new passengers are showing signs of infection.

International Repatriation Plans Underway

Several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and multiple European Union nations, are sending aircraft to bring their citizens home. Special medical aircraft will also remain on standby in case any passenger needs to be transported to medical isolation.

Spanish passengers will be flown to Madrid, where they must complete mandatory quarantine at the Gómez Ulla Military Hospital.

Health officials say quarantine could be challenging because hantavirus symptoms can take up to nine weeks to appear. There is no official confirmation yet on how long passengers will remain isolated.