WHO Lead to Coordinate Hantavirus Response in Tenerife
On Saturday, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) will arrive on the Spanish island of Tenerife to assist in the evacuation of passengers affected by a hantavirus outbreak, according to an official from the Spanish Ministry of Health. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is expected to join Spain’s health and interior ministers at the local command center to facilitate coordination among various agencies, manage health protocols, and implement surveillance and response measures.
Tragically, three passengers aboard the MV Hondius—two from the Netherlands and one from Germany—have died due to the virus, while several others are confirmed to have contracted the disease, which is often transmitted through rodent populations. The Andes virus, the only known strain of hantavirus that can be passed between humans, has been identified in those who tested positive for the infection, raising alarms on an international scale.
The Dutch-flagged ship, carrying approximately 150 individuals, is poised to dock in Tenerife, part of Spain’s Canary Islands, on Sunday. Arrangements are in place for the infected passengers to be flown back to their home countries shortly after arrival.
Earlier on Friday, the WHO reassured the public that the hantavirus outbreak presents a minimal risk to the broader population. “While this is a dangerous virus, it primarily spreads among those already infected, and the overall risk to the general public remains quite low,” asserted WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeyer during a media briefing.
Lindmeyer emphasized that the nature of the situation aboard the MV Hondius shows that, even among those sharing close quarters, not all appear to be infected. “This virus is not contagious enough to spread easily from person to person,” he added. As of Friday, the WHO has confirmed six of the eight suspected cases on the ship, with no additional suspected infections reported.
KLM Flight Attendant Tests Negative for Hantavirus
A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight attendant who had contact with an infected passenger has tested negative for hantavirus, the WHO reported on Friday. The infected passenger, whose husband was the first fatality in this outbreak, had briefly been on a KLM flight from Johannesburg to the Netherlands on April 25, but was removed prior to departure. Sadly, she succumbed to the virus the following day in a hospital in Johannesburg.
Spanish health authorities revealed that another woman from the flight is currently undergoing testing after developing symptoms at her home in eastern Spain. She is now in isolation at a local hospital. Health Secretary Javier Padilla noted, “This represents a fairly unlikely case,” pointing out that she was seated just two rows behind the infected individual.
A South African woman who also traveled on the KLM flight remains asymptomatic and is currently in South Africa following a week in Barcelona, as confirmed by a source within the Spanish Interior Ministry. Authorities in Singapore have indicated that two of their residents aboard the ship tested negative but will remain under quarantine as a precautionary measure.
Evacuation Logistics for MV Hondius Passengers
The MV Hondius commenced its voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 for a cruise across the Atlantic Ocean to Cape Verde. Three suspected cases were evacuated from Cape Verde to the Netherlands, including two crew members who later tested positive for the virus. German officials indicated that the third individual tested negative but continues to be monitored for further symptoms.
State health official Juan Petrina remarked that the likelihood of the initial Dutch patient contracting the virus in Ushuaia is “almost zero,” considering the virus’s incubation period and other factors. YouTuber Qassem Ibn Hattuta, a traveler on the Hondius, expressed relief among passengers following the arrival of medical personnel on board. “Everyone is relieved, especially knowing that our sick colleagues will finally receive the care they need,” he stated, adding that passengers are maintaining a positive outlook and following health guidelines by wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
US Evacuation Plans Amid Weather Warnings
The United States government announced plans on Friday to evacuate American passengers aboard the ship, with arrangements to transfer them to a quarantine facility in Nebraska upon arrival. Spanish authorities confirmed that the MV Hondius is anchored off the coast of Tenerife and will not be allowed to dock. Passengers will be shuttled to shore in small boats before being transported by bus to the airport.
Given impending severe weather, the Canary Islands’ regional government has stated that evacuations must occur between Sunday and Monday. Dock workers in Tenerife protested the ship’s arrival on Friday. The cruise had visited several remote British islands in the South Atlantic, prompting British health authorities to announce a suspected case on Tristan da Cunha, one of the world’s most isolated inhabited locations.
