Canary Islands prepare for arrival of cruise ship carrying suspected hantavirus passengers

Spanish Authorities Prepare for Evacuation of Cruise Ship Passengers Affected by Hantavirus Outbreak

A cruise ship carrying 140 passengers and crew is expected to arrive at Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday morning, where it will drop off those affected by a hantavirus outbreak. The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius vessel has been en route for weeks after at least eight people fell ill with the virus.

According to Spanish authorities, the passengers will be taken to a “completely isolated” area upon arrival, where they will undergo evacuation procedures. World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is scheduled to assist in coordinating the evacuation efforts.

Three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who disembarked the ship are known to be infected with hantavirus. However, cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions has stated that there were no reported cases of symptoms on board the ship at the time of departure.

The WHO considers the risk to the wider public from the outbreak as low, citing that the virus is not easily transmitted between people and is usually spread through inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings. The Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases.

Health authorities across four continents have been tracking down and monitoring passengers who disembarked the ship before the outbreak was first detected, as well as tracing those who may have come into contact with them.

The arrival of the MV Hondius has sparked concerns among some Spanish residents, who fear that the passengers’ arrival could pose a health risk on the island. Some groups, including Iustitia Europa, have called for the ship to be barred from reaching Spanish shores, citing concerns over transparency and public safety.

Passengers on board the ship have expressed their fears about being ostracized upon arrival on land, with some stating that they are worried about how people will receive them. Once the ship reaches Tenerife, passengers will be evacuated in small boats to buses before being transported in isolated vehicles to a designated area.

Source: Al Jazeera