Aena Denies Hoax Over Fake Hantavirus Warning at Tenerife Airport
Aena has officially debunked a viral social media image claiming hantavirus warnings were posted at Tenerife South Airport, confirming the sign was a digital fabrication following a strictly isolated passenger transit operation.
Disinformation has once again challenged crisis management at critical infrastructure sites following a recent repatriation operation in the Canary Islands. Aena, the airport operator, has officially confirmed that an image circulating on social media—which claims that hantavirus health warnings were posted at Tenerife South Airport—is a hoax. The operator has categorically denied the authenticity of the sign, noting that it appeared during a period of heightened public sensitivity following the arrival of passengers from the vessel MV Hondius.
The confusion stems from a logistical operation carried out between Sunday and Monday near the port of Granadilla. The Dutch-flagged ship required a health intervention, leading authorities to transport its passengers to the Tenerife terminal for their return flights. To ensure public safety, the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) used a strict protocol: passengers were moved in sealed "bubble buses" directly to the flight apron.
This procedure proves that the viral alert is false. Because the passengers never entered public areas or airport terminals, there was no reason to install health signage for the general public. The operation, which involved the departure of a dozen aircraft, was conducted under strict isolation to prevent any contact with regular airport traffic.
The spread of such false information during health emergencies highlights the importance of relying on official sources. Aena’s quick response helped calm the public alarm caused by the photograph, which has been identified as a digital manipulation rather than a genuine document.