The MV Hondius has finally docked in the Canary Islands, ending its weeklong exile-at-sea
Virus-plagued cruise ship the MV Hondius has officially docked at the Spanish island of Tenerife, more than one week after authorities were alerted to the deadly hantavirus outbreak that had stricken the Dutch-flagged ship.
The infected cruiseliner, with more than 140 passengers and crew still on board, was advised by European health authorities and the World Health Organisation to head for Spain’s Canary Islands several days ago, after it was moored off the coast of West Africa after it was refused port at Cape Verde.
Three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who left the ship are infected with hantavirus.
Ahead of the ship’s arrival at Tenerife, the head of the World Health Organisation sought to reassure residents of the Spanish island, issuing them a direct message that the virus was “not another COVID.”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with Spain’s Health Minister Monica Garcia and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, arrived on the island Saturday to coordinate the disembarkation of passengers and some crew.
“I know you are worried. I know that when you hear the word ‘outbreak’ and watch a ship sail toward your shores, memories surface that none of us have fully put to rest. The pain of 2020 is still real, and I do not dismiss it for a single moment,” Tedros said in a statement to the people of Tenerife.
“But I need you to hear me clearly: This is not another COVID. The current public health risk from hantavirus remains low. My colleagues and I have said this unequivocally, and I will say it again to you now,” Tedros added.
WHO, Spanish authorities and cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions said nobody on the Hondius is currently showing symptoms of the virus.
Hantavirus can cause life-threatening illness. It usually spreads when people inhale contaminated residue of rodent droppings and isn’t easily transmitted between people. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. Symptoms usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.
According to a letter sent by the Dutch foreign and health ministers to parliament late Friday, Spain has activated the EU civil protection mechanism for a medical evacuation plane equipped for infectious diseases to be on standby in case anyone on the ship becomes ill. That person would then be transported by air to the European mainland.
The Dutch government will work with Spanish authorities and the ship company to arrange repatriation of Dutch passengers and crew as soon as possible after arrival in Tenerife, subject to medical conditions and advice from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the letter said. Those without symptoms will go into home quarantine for six weeks and be monitored by local health services.
According to a letter from the Dutch foreign and health ministers sent to parliament late Friday, Spain has activated the EU civil protection mechanism. This ensures a medical evacuation plane, equipped for infectious diseases, is on standby to transport any ill individuals on the ship by air to the European mainland.
The letter also stated that the Dutch government will collaborate with Spanish authorities and the ship company to organise the repatriation of Dutch passengers and crew from Tenerife as quickly as medical conditions and advice from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control allow.
Those without symptoms will be required to enter a six-week home quarantine under the supervision of local health services.