The cruise ship MV Hondius, carrying passengers and crew from a hantavirus outbreak that has resulted in at least three confirmed deaths, is set to dock in Tenerife in the Canary Islands early Sunday morning. Spanish authorities, coordinated with the World Health Organization (WHO), are prepared to manage the disembarkation and subsequent health screenings. While the ship's arrival is a cause for concern among some locals, officials emphasize that the risk to the general population is minimal.
Key developments include:
Arrival Time: The ship is expected to drop anchor between 04:00-06:00 GMT on Sunday. Passenger disembarkation is slated to begin around 07:00 GMT.
WHO Reassurance: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited Tenerife on Saturday, stating that the island is ready for the operation and that the risk to the local population is low due to the nature of the disease and the preventative measures in place.
Passenger and Crew Handling: Approximately 140 passengers and crew are on board. Around 30 crew members will remain to sail the ship back to the Netherlands. Passengers will be screened in Tenerife before being transferred to their home countries.
Disembarkation Protocol: Spanish passengers will be the first to disembark and will be flown to Madrid for quarantine at the Gomez-Ulla military hospital. Other passengers will be flown to their respective home countries. For example, American passengers are being directed to Nebraska for assessment, though not quarantine. British passengers will be flown to Merseyside for hospital quarantine.
No Visible Symptoms: Spanish health officials report that no one currently on board the ship is exhibiting symptoms of the hantavirus.
Hantavirus Confirmed on MV Hondius
The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius has been officially confirmed by health authorities. The first passenger death occurred on April 11, with a second death on May 2. A third death was reported by the UK Health Security Agency, involving a British national who was a passenger on the ship.
Concerns have been raised about potential risks, including the possibility of rodents from the ship reaching the shore. However, Spain's health ministry stated that inspections have revealed no rodents on board and deemed the probability of them swimming to shore as non-existent.
Read More: Hantavirus Ship Arrives in Tenerife Today, Passengers Quarantined
International Tracking and Potential Cases
The virus has prompted international efforts to trace individuals who disembarked the ship prior to its arrival in Tenerife.
A 69-year-old Dutch woman who left the ship in St Helena on April 24 later traveled to South Africa, where she died two days later. She was on the same flight as another individual who later tested positive for hantavirus.
Another possible case involves a British national on Tristan da Cunha, where the ship made a stop on April 15.
A British national who was on the ship is suspected of having the virus. Two other Britons on board have been confirmed to have the virus.
A passenger who returned to Switzerland after leaving the ship tested positive and is receiving treatment.
U.S. health officials are monitoring a small number of residents who were on the ship and have already returned home, as well as individuals who may have had contact with them.
The timing of the first confirmation of hantavirus in a ship passenger by the WHO was May 2, nearly a month after the first death onboard. Concerns were also raised about over two dozen people leaving the ship on April 24 in St Helena without immediate contact tracing.
Background: The Hantavirus and Cruise Ship Itinerary
Hantaviruses are a group of viruses spread primarily by rodents. While they can cause severe illness, including potentially fatal respiratory disease, transmission from person to person is rare.
The MV Hondius embarked on a journey that included stops in regions where hantavirus is known to be present. It is believed that infection may have occurred before passengers boarded the ship or during excursions in affected areas. The ship's itinerary included stops in locations such as Argentina.
Read More: US Evacuates Americans from Cruise Ship Due to Hantavirus
The operation to manage the ship's arrival in Tenerife has not been without logistical considerations. Reports indicated that bad weather off the coast could potentially cause delays for personnel needing transport from the island.
