The cruise ship involved in the Hantavirus outbreak evacuated 94 people on the 10th, with another 24 expected to disembark on the 11th.
The “Hondius” cruise ship, which experienced a Hantavirus outbreak, arrived at Spain’s Tenerife Island on the 10th. The evacuation began that day and was scheduled to continue until the 11th.
Spanish Health Minister García and World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros held a press conference on the 10th. García said that 94 passengers from 8 countries boarded 7 flights back to their respective countries that day, with the Spanish passengers having been transferred to the capital Madrid for medical observation. Another 24 people are expected to leave the ship on the 11th. She stated that the evacuation process is being carried out “normally and safely.”
It is reported that, on that day, passengers left the “Hondius” cruise ship in small boats according to nationality. After going ashore, they boarded buses one after another to the airport. Multiple countries, including the United States, France, Canada, Ireland, and the Netherlands, arranged flights to evacuate their citizens.
At the press conference, Tedros recommended that the passengers be quarantined and monitored for health for a period of 42 days.
Cruise ship with crew sails to Rotterdam, Netherlands
According to CNN, after the evacuation has been completed, the “Hondius” cruise ship will sail with around 30 crew members to Rotterdam, Netherlands. Once the crew disembarks, the ship will undergo disinfection.
When the “Hondius” cruise ship arrived in Spain, it was carrying a total of 151 people, including 147 passengers and crew, 2 Dutch epidemiologists, and 2 WHO representatives. According to WHO statistics, 8 people have fallen ill so far, 3 of whom have died; among the 8 cases, 6 have been confirmed.