Passengers who were on board the cruise ship affected by the hantavirus are being transferred to a specialized hospital ward designed to handle incidents involving dangerous substances. The MV Hondius cruise ship, which departed from Argentina a month ago and is currently near Cape Verde, has experienced fatalities and illnesses due to the rare rat-borne disease. Evacuations have commenced, including one British individual taken to the Netherlands for treatment. Spain has decided to relocate its 14 citizens from the ship to the High-Level Isolation Unit at the Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital in Madrid if symptoms arise.
The hospital unit is equipped to manage outbreaks of tropical and uncommon illnesses, as well as incidents involving hazardous biological or radioactive materials. Evacuation procedures will start once the passengers disembark at the port in Tenerife, with subsequent transport to the hospital via military aircraft. The isolation unit in Madrid, situated on the 22nd floor of the hospital, offers specialized care with strict isolation measures in place.
The facility has dedicated access separate from public entrances, with advanced medical equipment and decontamination procedures in place. Colonel Antonio Fé Marques, the unit’s leader, established the facility post the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Patients displaying symptoms will be admitted directly to isolation units, while those without symptoms will be housed separately within the hospital complex. Quarantine procedures will be voluntary, with individuals required to sign an informed consent form.
A total of 19 British passengers and four crew members were on the ship, with two British nationals who disembarked in late April advised to self-isolate for 45 days. The UK Health Security Agency has issued this guidance to prevent any potential spread of the disease.
