Health Minister Says Hantavirus Risk Remains Low
Spain’s health minister on Saturday assured the public that the risk of hantavirus transmission was ‘low’ as authorities prepared to receive the virus-struck MV Hondius, expected to dock in the Canary Islands on Sunday morning.
“This is an unprecedented operation,” Monica Garcia said in a joint press conference with Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska in Madrid on Saturday.
She added that carrying out this task is a ‘source of pride’ for the country. The ship is expected to arrive at Canary Islands’ Granadilla port in the early morning hours.
“We undoubtedly understand the unease of the Canarian society, but the government, the autonomous community, the World Health Organisation, and the European Union, through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, are working in a coordinated manner to avert any danger,” Grande-Marlaska stated.
International Evacuation and Quarantine Measures Planned
The Spanish government will be evacuating citizens from 23 countries in the ‘planned operation. The epidemiologists on the ship will be conducting an evaluation of the people on board.
The vessel will remain docked at the port and will then be sent to the Netherlands to complete the disinfection process.
“I want to clarify that neither luggage nor the body of the deceased person will be offloaded in the Canary Islands. They will remain on board along with part of the crew,” she added.
Garcia said that the Spanish government had been able to trace three people who had come in contact with the woman who contracted the virus and later died in Johannesburg.
“The risk to the general population remains low,” she said.
The interior minister added that the Spanish citizen on the ship will be taken to the Gomez-Ulla Hospital for a preventive quarantine.
Global Contact Tracing Expands After Outbreak
According to the World Health Organisation, a total of eight cases (six confirmed and two probable cases), including three deaths, were reported.
The US, Britain, and other countries have been arranging flights to bring their nationals home.
The outbreak is believed to have begun after exposure during the ship’s South America itinerary, before it left Ushuaia on April 1. Contact tracing has since expanded across several continents after some passengers left the ship in Saint Helena before the outbreak was confirmed.
South African authorities traced contacts after a Dutch woman became seriously ill during travel and died after being taken off a flight in Johannesburg. Saint Helena officials said local contacts had been identified and given health guidance.
