The Minister of Health, Mónica García, appeared on Wednesday afternoon alongside the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, to report on the arrival in the Canary Islands of the MV Hondius, the tourist cruise ship operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, on which a hantavirus outbreak of Andes has been detected.
For the moment, the vessel is anchored near Praia, on Santiago Island (Cape Verde), south of the Canary Islands. Furthermore, it has reported that a "thorough evaluation of the situation" has been carried out by a team of epidemiological experts.
After the disembarkation of the three symptomatic passengers, among whom was the plane's doctor, the rest of passengers and the crew "are asymptomatic", García has informed. Therefore, it has been decided that they be transferred by boat to the Puerto de Granadilla de Abona, ten minutes from Tenerife South Airport.
In a coordinated operation with the World Health Organization, and despite the criticism from the Government of the Canary Islands, the Spanish Executive has decided to repatriate all passengers from the Canary Islands, unless their medical condition prevents it, following the European civil detection mechanism. To which it has added that it will be done "avoiding all contact with the local population", with specific transport to move the sick.
Regarding the fourteen Spaniards, it has been indicated that they will be transferred by military plane from Tenerife to Madrid, where they will be isolated in a tent camp.
The ship will dock this Saturday
The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, pointed out this Wednesday in Brussels that the shipping company owning the cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak has submitted a request to the port authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife to be able to dock in the island's port on Saturday, May 9.
"The president of the Port Authority has notified me that there has been a request from the shipping company, from the shipowner, to be able to dock in a port in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife," Clavijo told the media in Brussels after holding a meeting with the vice-president of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera.
