Seven cases of hantavirus – two confirmed and five suspected – have been identified so far, and health chiefs face a race against time to track those who flew with an infected passenger
The luxury cruise ship hit by a suspected rat-borne virus outbreak is set to dock in the Canary Islands after three passengers died and a Brit was left fighting for life.
More than 20 Brits are stuck on the Dutch MV Hondius, which has been anchored off Cape Verde’s capital Praia since Sunday. And health chiefs are desperately trying to find dozens of people who flew with an infected passenger just days before she died.
Officials are trying to contain the outbreak and are determining which passengers required urgent evacuation from Cape Verde, where the ship was docked, Spain’s health ministry said.
Two crew members – including the ship’s reportedly British doctor – require urgent medical care and were due to be evacuated on a hospital aircraft to the Canary Islands on Tuesday.
The remaining 149 passengers onboard remain under “strict precautionary measures” as the ship sails to the Canary Islands, where they were expected to arrive within three to four days. The exact port of arrival had not yet been decided, officials said.
Once the ship has docked in the Canaries, medical teams will examine and treat all passengers and crew and transfer them to their countries, a Spanish Health Ministry statement said.
The statement added: “The World Health Organization has explained that Cape Verde is unable to carry out this operation.
“The Canary Islands are the closest location with the necessary capabilities. Spain has a moral and legal obligation to assist these people, among whom are also several Spanish citizens.”
Photos showed several medics wearing hazmat suits leaving the boat after trying to track down the origins of the virus. It is not clear if they remain onboard.
World Health Organization epidemic and pandemic prevention director Maria Van Kerkhove said on Tuesday: “We’re working with Spanish authorities who have said that they will do a full investigation, a full epidemiologic investigation, full disinfection of the ship.”
Cases of the rat-borne disease have risen to seven – two confirmed and five suspected – the World Health Organization confirmed on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “My thoughts are with those affected by the hantavirus outbreak on board the MV Hondius.
“We are working closely with international partners to support British nationals on board and we’re putting plans in place for their safe onward travel.”
Three people have died so far – a Dutch couple and a German – after falling ill during the voyage from Argentina. A British passenger, 69, is also being treated in intensive care in South Africa after falling ill during the trip.
Ann Lane, a passenger from Dublin, said: “The doctor had been treating everybody day and night, really dedicated to what he was doing. He has been fabulous. He’s a younger man, British. He has been sick for quite a few days, maybe since last Thursday.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.