Authorities said the ship could dock in Gran Canaria or Tenerife in the coming days, where passengers and crew would undergo medical checks under strict containment protocols.
The crisis on board involves an outbreak of hantavirus, which has claimed the lives of three people so far, including a Dutch couple and a German national.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported seven cases among people on the ship that departed from Argentina, with two confirmed and five suspected. A British national who tested positive is currently receiving treatment in South Africa.
Two crew members, including the ship’s doctor, are in urgent need of medical attention and are being evacuated via hospital plane. Another suspected infected person will also be transferred.
Spanish authorities said all necessary precautions will be taken during the evacuation and upon arrival to avoid contact with the public.
The Spanish Ministry of Health said that upon arrival in the Canary Islands, all personnel will be examined, treated if necessary, and then repatriated in coordination with international health agencies.
Health officials believe the outbreak may involve an Andean strain of hantavirus, which can be spread through close human contact, although such transmission remains rare.
The World Health Organization says infections can spread between individuals in close proximity, such as in shared cabins, while initial contact may occur before boarding a flight or during a wildlife excursion. Some 149 passengers and crew members from 23 countries remain under strict quarantine measures on board.
Despite the serious conditions on board, officials stressed that the risk to the wider public remains low. All interactions with passengers will take place in specially designated facilities and transportation systems to prevent any contact with local residents.
The voyage was billed as an Antarctic expedition cruise and had covered remote destinations before the pandemic.