The chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered a direct message to residents of Tenerife on Saturday, ensuring them that the hantavirus-infected cruise ship heading towards the Spanish island poses no threat. The MV Hondius, flying the Dutch flag and carrying over 140 individuals, is en route to the Canary Islands near West Africa. The vessel was scheduled to reach Tenerife on Sunday at approximately 5:30 a.m. local time, with passengers and some crew members expected to disembark around 8 a.m.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of WHO, arrived in Spain and will be accompanied by senior government officials in Tenerife to oversee the safe disembarkation of passengers and crew. He stated that there are currently no additional individuals exhibiting symptoms of hantavirus on board the ship. Some residents of Tenerife have expressed concerns about the ship docking on the island, fearing the potential spread of the virus. Spanish passengers on the cruise ship have also voiced apprehension about their reception upon landing.
“I am aware of your concerns. Hearing about an ‘outbreak’ and witnessing a ship approaching your shores can bring back unsettling memories that linger,” Tedros conveyed in his message. “However, it is important to understand that this situation is not akin to COVID-19. The risk of hantavirus transmission remains low, as confirmed by health experts.”
Hantavirus, a virus that can lead to severe illness, is typically transmitted through contaminated rodent droppings and is not easily spread between humans. While the Andes virus identified in this cruise ship incident may have rare human-to-human transmission capabilities, no one on board is currently showing symptoms. The Spanish Health Minister Mónica Garcia assured that passengers and some crew members will disembark in Tenerife under strict safety measures, with evacuation flights planned for Sunday and Monday.
The ship will remain anchored without docking, and individuals leaving the vessel will undergo health screenings before being flown off the island. Special arrangements have been made for the evacuation of passengers from various nationalities, including Canadians. Those without symptoms will be required to self-isolate for six weeks, closely monitored by local health authorities. The Dutch government has activated the European Union’s civil protection mechanism for medical evacuation if necessary.
Health authorities worldwide are actively tracking down individuals who may have been in contact with infected passengers who disembarked before the outbreak was detected. The situation is being closely monitored, with necessary precautions in place to prevent further spread of the virus.