The cruise ship linked to a Hantavirus outbreak has arrived off Tenerife, prompting health authorities to begin testing and evacuating passengers to their home countries.
The MV Hondius, a cruise ship associated with a deadly Hantavirus outbreak, arrived early Sunday off the coast of Tenerife, Spain. Spanish health authorities are preparing to test and evacuate passengers to ensure their safety.
According to officials, the evacuation process is expected to commence between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. local time. Spanish nationals will be the first to disembark, followed by passengers from other countries. After testing, those cleared will be transported ashore in small boats.
Once on land, evacuees will be taken to the island’s main airport for flights back to their home countries. Reports indicate that multiple American citizens are among the passengers aboard the ship.
The U.S. government is reportedly planning to transfer American passengers to a military base in Nebraska for quarantine and monitoring, as the situation unfolds.
The cruise ship set sail for Spain on Wednesday from the coast of Cape Verde after the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union requested assistance in managing the outbreak. The ship’s arrival coincided with the visit of WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to the island.
On Friday, the WHO reported that eight individuals aboard the ship had fallen ill, with three confirmed fatalities. Six cases of Hantavirus have been confirmed, while two additional cases are suspected.
In a statement on Saturday, Dr. Ghebreyesus addressed public concerns regarding the outbreak, emphasizing that the current health risk remains low. “I know you are worried. I know that when you hear the word ‘outbreak’ and watch a ship sail toward your shores, memories surface that none of us have fully put to rest,” he stated. “But I need you to hear me clearly: this is not another COVID-19. The current public health risk from Hantavirus remains low.”
Dr. Ghebreyesus noted that the strain of the virus identified on the ship is the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can be severe. He expressed condolences to the families of those who have died, reiterating that the overall public health risk remains low.
Approximately 30 crew members are expected to remain on board the vessel as it continues its journey to the Netherlands, where it will undergo disinfection procedures.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenges posed by rodent-borne diseases and the importance of swift public health responses in managing outbreaks.
For further details, refer to Fox News Digital and Reuters.