Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship: EU prepares large-scale evacuation
This was reported by Reuters, citing a statement by Spain’s Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
The EU is preparing to evacuate passengers
According to the minister, the European Union will also send two more aircraft to evacuate citizens of other EU countries. The US and the UK have confirmed their readiness to provide air transport and are drawing up contingency plans for their citizens and residents of countries unable to organise their own evacuation. The cruise ship is expected to arrive in Tenerife between 03:00 and 05:00 GMT.
What is known about the hantavirus outbreak
The MV Hondius set sail for Spain on Wednesday from the coast of Cape Verde after the World Health Organisation and the European Union appealed to Spain to organise the evacuation of passengers. The WHO reported that eight cases of the disease had been recorded on board. Three people have died — a German national and a couple from the Netherlands. According to the organisation, six people have been confirmed as infected by laboratory tests, whilst two further cases remain suspected. Hantavirus is usually transmitted by rodents, although human-to-human transmission is possible in rare cases.
How the evacuation will take place
Spain’s Health Minister, Mónica García, has announced that all passengers and 17 crew members will be evacuated from the cruise ship. A further 30 crew members will remain on board and travel to the Netherlands. Passengers’ luggage and the body of one of the deceased will also remain on the ship. Upon arrival, the cruise ship is to be fully disinfected. According to Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Spanish citizens will be evacuated first, and the subsequent order of disembarkation will be determined by the health authorities. Passengers will not be allowed to leave the ship until their evacuation flight is ready for departure.
WHO sends delegation to Tenerife
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is due to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid on Saturday. He will then travel to Tenerife with Spain’s ministers of the interior and health to coordinate the ship’s arrival and the evacuation operation. Local authorities have warned that the evacuation must be completed between midday on Sunday and Monday due to deteriorating weather conditions and a storm in the region.
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