The head of the World Health Organization has sought to reassure residents of the Spanish island of Tenerife ahead of the arrival of a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived on the island on Saturday, where he met with Spanish authorities to coordinate the disembarkation of passengers and crew.
Tedros acknowledged the concerns of residents, saying "The pain of 2020 is still real, and I do not dismiss it for a single moment." However, he emphasized that the current public health risk from hantavirus remains low, and that the virus is not easily transmitted between people.
The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius is expected to arrive at Tenerife early Sunday, with over 140 passengers and crew on board. Passengers will be isolated and checked for symptoms before being taken off the ship, and will be quarantined for six weeks.
Authorities are working to complete the evacuation flights on Sunday and Monday, with planes from the US and UK on standby to evacuate their citizens. The ship will then sail on to the Netherlands, where it will undergo disinfection.
Health authorities across four continents are tracking down and monitoring passengers who disembarked before the outbreak was detected, and are scrambling to trace others who may have come into contact with them.
