The Dutch flagship MV Hondius, carrying more than 140 passengers and crew, is moving to the Canary Islands of Spain off the coast of West Africa and scheduled to enter Tenerife Island on the morning of May 10.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, arrived on the island on May 9 to coordinate the evacuation of passengers and some crew members.
I know you are worried. I understand that when you hear the word "epidemic" and witness a ship heading towards your coast, memories that none of us completely forget will rush back. The pain of 2020 is still present and I do not take it lightly even for a moment" - Mr. Tedros said in a message to the people of Tenerife.
But I need you to hear this clearly: This is not another COVID-19. The risk to public health today from the hantavirus is still low. My colleagues and I have clearly affirmed this and now I repeat it to you" - WHO Director-General added.
According to WHO, Spanish officials and sea tourism company Oceanwide Expedition said that no one on the Hondius ship has shown symptoms of the virus.
Hantavirus can cause life-threatening diseases. This virus usually spreads when humans inhale dust or residues contaminated from rodents' feces and is not easily transmitted from person to person.
However, the Andes virus variant discovered in the outbreak on the Hondius cruise ship can be transmitted between humans in rare cases. Symptoms usually appear in about 1-8 weeks after exposure.
There have been 3 deaths since the outbreak and 5 passengers who left the train were confirmed to be infected with the hantavirus.
Some Tenerife residents feel worried. Others sympathize with the passengers on board but still feel insecure.
Minister of Health Monica Garcia said that passengers and some crew members will leave the ship in Tenerife "under maximum safety conditions".
The ship will not dock but anchor offshore, passengers will be brought ashore by small boats. All people leaving the ship will have their symptoms checked and will only disembark when the plane picking them up is present in Tenerife, Ms. Garcia informed. Currently, there are citizens from 20 different nationalities on this tourist ship.
WHO Director of Diseases and Epidemics Maria Van Kerkhove said that officials set a target to complete evacuation flights on the 10th and 11th. 5.
Both the US and the UK have agreed to dispatch aircraft to evacuate citizens. US citizens will be quarantined at a medical center in Nebraska.
All Spanish passengers will be transferred to medical facilities and isolated, Ms. Garcia said. According to Oceanwide, there are currently 13 passengers and 1 crew member of Spanish nationality on board.
Those leaving the ship will have to leave their luggage, only allowed to carry a small bag containing essential items, phones, chargers and personal papers, according to Ms. Garcia.
Some crew members, along with the body of a passenger who died on board, will continue to stay. This cruise ship will then move to the Netherlands for disinfection.
