Spain will host the cruise ship in the Canary Islands MV Hondius, affected by a hantavirus outbreak, following a request from the World Health Organization (WHO). The measure is taken for humanitarian reasons and in compliance with International Law, according to the Ministry of Health.
Furthermore, the Spanish Government has accepted take in a ship’s doctor who is in serious conditionat the request of the Netherlands. This will be immediately evacuated to the Canary Islands in a medicalized plane to receive urgent care.
The cruise ship is currently anchored in Cape Verdewhere a team of WHO epidemiologists is assessing the situation on board. In total there are 147 people on boardwhich include fourteen Spaniards, including five Catalans, three from Madrid, one from Galicia and one from Valencia, in principle in good health.
So far, there have been registered seven cases of hantavirusincluding three deceased and one person in critical condition. This virus is mainly transmitted by contact with rodents or their droppings.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is analyzing who should be evacuated immediately and who will be able to travel to the Canary Islands in the coming days. Once there, all passengers will be examined, treated and subsequently repatriated to their countries of origin.