Geneva, 10 May (H.S.):
The World Health Organization has moved swiftly to calm public anxieties in Spain's Canary Islands as the MV Hondius, a cruise ship battling a hantavirus outbreak, nears Tenerife's shores.
Health officials report eight confirmed or suspected hantavirus cases aboard the vessel, which sailed from South America, resulting in three fatalities from the severe Andes strain. Unlike respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, hantavirus primarily transmits via contact with infected rodent excreta or, rarely, through prolonged exposure to severely ill patients in clinical settings, posing minimal risk through casual interactions.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that no symptomatic passengers remain on board, with a dedicated expert overseeing operations to prevent community spread.
Authorities plan rigorous screening, testing, and isolation for all passengers and crew before controlled evacuation to specialized facilities at Tenerife's industrial port of Granadilla, away from populated zones. Transfers will occur via sealed, secured vehicles along cordoned routes, followed by direct repatriation, ensuring no mingling with locals. Spanish health teams, bolstered by international support, aim to contain the incident without broader disruption.
Tenerife residents, scarred by COVID-19 memories, have staged protests near docking sites, demanding transparency and protective protocols for port workers.Union representative Joana Batista voiced frustrations over inadequate safety briefings, underscoring calls for clear communication on passenger handling and potential impacts. WHO's direct address counters these fears, affirming the outbreak's low public health threat.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
