The arrival of the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius has sparked concerns in the Canary Islands, where residents fear the outbreak could spread once passengers disembark and hospitals may be overwhelmed. The Madrid government has allowed the cruise ship, which has a 40 percent mortality rate, to dock in the Canal Islands despite opposition from the islands' president. The Canary Islands president, Fernando Clavijo, stated that he could not allow the ship to enter the Canary Island. The World Health Organization has stressed that the public risk remains low, but locals are baffled as to why the Canary islands were chosen as the ship's destination. The 13 Spanish passengers and one crew member will be taken to the Gómez Ulla Military hospital in Madrid for quarantine.