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🇰🇷 South Korea /Health & Science

Hantavirus cruise ship arrives in Tenerife; 'All passengers negative'

From Hankyoreh · (34m ago) Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A cruise ship, the MV Hondevis, carrying passengers with suspected Hantavirus infections, has docked in Tenerife, Canary Islands, after being denied entry by several other nations.
  • Three passengers have died from the virus, and six others have tested positive, with symptoms including fever and abdominal pain.
  • The ship's passengers will be transferred to shore via small boats and then repatriated, with all passengers testing negative for the virus before disembarking.

After being turned away by several nations, the cruise ship MV Hondevis, carrying passengers afflicted with the Hantavirus, has finally docked at the port of Granadilla on the Spanish island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The vessel, which departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, began reporting cases of the virus, characterized by symptoms such as fever and abdominal pain, on April 6. Tragically, three passengers have succumbed to the illness, with six others confirmed positive for the virus after testing. The ship's arrival in Tenerife marks a significant development after a period of uncertainty and international concern.

The Hantavirus, known for causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and potentially severe respiratory distress, has a high fatality rate, particularly certain strains like the Andes strain found on the Hondevis. This strain has previously been known to spread through human-to-human transmission via respiratory droplets. The decision by Spain to allow the ship to dock, following a request from the World Health Organization, was framed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as a 'moral and legal obligation' to provide a safe harbor. However, the landing process is being managed with extreme caution to prevent any potential spread to the local population.

Accepting the WHO's request to provide a safe harbor is a moral and legal obligation towards our citizens, Europe, and international law.

— Pedro SánchezSpanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez explaining the decision to allow the Hantavirus-infected cruise ship to dock in Tenerife.

To mitigate risks, passengers will be disembarked using small boats, without their luggage, and transported directly to Tenerife South Airport for immediate repatriation flights to their home countries. Spanish authorities emphasized that all passengers tested negative for the virus before disembarking, and strict protocols are in place to ensure no contact with the local community. The World Health Organization's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, arrived in the Canary Islands to reassure residents, stressing that this is not another COVID-19 situation. Nevertheless, returning passengers will face quarantine periods in their respective countries, given the virus's incubation period, which can extend up to four weeks, with some recommendations suggesting up to six weeks.

To be clear, this is not another COVID-19.

— Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusWorld Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reassuring residents of the Canary Islands about the Hantavirus situation on the cruise ship.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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