The leader of the World Health Organization has issued a statement to reassure residents of the Spanish island where passengers from a cruise ship affected by hantavirus are set to be evacuated.
The MV Hondius, flying the Dutch flag and carrying over 140 individuals, is en route to the Canary Islands in Spain, located off the West African coast, and is scheduled to reach Tenerife island this morning.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived at the island on Saturday, alongside Spain’s Health Minister Monica Garcia and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, to coordinate the safe disembarkation of passengers and some crew members.
In a message to the people of Tenerife, Tedros acknowledged their concerns and emphasized that the hantavirus situation is not comparable to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the current risk level being low according to health authorities.
The World Health Organization, Spanish officials, and Oceanwide Expeditions, the cruise company, confirmed that no one on board the Hondius is displaying hantavirus symptoms at present.
Hantavirus, though potentially life-threatening, typically spreads through inhaling contaminated rodent droppings and is not easily transmissible between humans. However, the Andes virus identified in this cruise ship outbreak may have the rare ability to spread among individuals. Symptoms usually manifest within one to eight weeks post exposure.
Since the outbreak, three individuals have died, and five passengers who departed the ship have tested positive for hantavirus.
Concerns Voiced by Some Tenerife Residents Regarding the Ship’s Presence
Several residents of Tenerife have expressed worry about the situation. Onboard the cruise ship, certain Spanish passengers have shared concerns about potential stigma. Simon Vidal, a 69-year-old resident, questioned the decision to bring the ship to the Canary Islands, highlighting the unease felt by some locals.
While showing empathy towards the passengers, others like Venezuelan immigrant Samantha Aguero, aged 27, also expressed unease, stressing the need for stringent safety measures given the virus’s nature and the lingering impact of the pandemic.
Limited Belongings and Isolation for Disembarking Passengers
Health Minister Garcia assured that passengers and selected crew members will be disembarking in Tenerife under strict safety protocols.
The ship will not dock but will anchor, with individuals being transferred off via small boats. Passenger health checks will be conducted before disembarkation, ensuring that they only leave once flights are ready in Tenerife. The ship accommodates individuals of more than 20 nationalities.
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