The MV Hondius cruise ship, which has encountered a hantavirus outbreak, has arrived at Tenerife Island in Spain's Canary Islands amid the highest security and public health measures.
The MV Hondius arrived near the Granadilla port on the southern coast of Tenerife before dawn but was not immediately authorized to dock.
Spanish authorities established a one nautical mile safety zone around the ship and deployed military, police, and rescue units to strictly control the area to prevent the spread of hantavirus, a rare but highly dangerous infectious disease.
Monica Garcia, Spain's Minister of Health, emphasized that the risk to the general public remains low and cautioned people against panic fueled by misinformation.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), traveled to Tenerife to oversee the passenger evacuation personally, praising the Spanish government's strong and effective response while acknowledging public concern as understandable given lingering memories of COVID-19.
However, WHO stated the risk of widespread transmission remains low because hantavirus differs from COVID-19, and Spain has implemented detailed control measures.
Reports indicate the outbreak on the cruise ship is linked to a landfill area in southern Argentina, a popular birdwatching site, where hantavirus is transmitted by rodents.
Normally, this virus rarely spreads from person to person, but the Andes strain is an exception that can transmit between humans, though such cases are uncommon.
Experts note the incubation period may last up to nine weeks, prompting several countries to prepare strict quarantine measures for returning passengers.
After docking, medical teams are reported to board the ship to examine all passengers, then group them by nationality for gradual transfer ashore via small boats.
Several countries, including the U.S., U.K., and EU member states, have sent chartered planes to retrieve their citizens, while specialized medical aircraft are on standby for emergency isolation if needed.
Spanish nationals will be transferred to Madrid for mandatory quarantine at the Gómez Ulla military hospital.
The Candelaria Hospital in Tenerife has prepared high-security isolation rooms equipped with ventilators and ample protective gear to handle severe cases.
Dr. Mar Martin, head of critical care, stated that although medical staff have not previously dealt with hantavirus, all personnel are fully trained.
While about 30 crew members remain aboard to sail the Hondius back to the Netherlands, for most passengers the frightening sea journey is ending. What awaits them now is weeks of quarantine and symptom monitoring, as the world closely watches the hantavirus outbreak following the recent COVID-19 crisis.
This event is described as an unprecedented public health operation for Spain, involving coordination among 23 countries sending planes to repatriate their citizens amid local fears of a COVID-19-like spread.
. Source:BBC
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