European States to Evacuate Citizens from Hantavirus-Hit Cruise Ship
Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands, along with the European Union, are sending planes to evacuate their citizens from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak.
Madrid, Spain – Several European nations have announced plans to send planes to evacuate their respective citizens aboard the Tenerife-bound cruise ship currently facing a hantavirus outbreak.
According to Spain’s interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands will coordinate these evacuation efforts, while the European Union is additionally providing two more planes for remaining EU citizens.
The United States and the United Kingdom have confirmed their involvement with planes as well.
Grande-Marlaska mentioned that arrangements are being made for non-EU citizens whose countries cannot send air transport.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will meet with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to coordinate the evacuation, which is expected to occur between 0300 GMT and 0500 GMT when the ship anchors near Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Local authorities have advised that the evacuation must take place between Sunday midday and Monday afternoon due to anticipated worsening stormy weather conditions by the end of May. The MV Hondius, a luxury cruise ship, departed from Cape Verde on Wednesday after being directed there by both WHO and EU authorities following the detection of the hantavirus outbreak.
As of Friday, eight individuals have contracted the virus, including three fatalities involving a Dutch couple and one German national.
Six cases are confirmed, with two additional suspected cases reported by WHO.
Hantavirus is typically transmitted from rodents but can occasionally be passed person-to-person in rare instances.
The evacuation will encompass all passengers and 17 crew members; however, 30 crew members will remain aboard to travel to the Netherlands.
Upon arrival in Tenerife, the ship will undergo full disinfection, and the bodies of deceased passengers, along with their luggage, will stay on board.
Spanish citizens will be the first to disembark, with further evacuation order determined by health authorities.
No passenger will be allowed to disembark until their respective evacuation plane is ready for departure.
According to Spain’s interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands will coordinate these evacuation efforts, while the European Union is additionally providing two more planes for remaining EU citizens.
The United States and the United Kingdom have confirmed their involvement with planes as well.
Grande-Marlaska mentioned that arrangements are being made for non-EU citizens whose countries cannot send air transport.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will meet with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to coordinate the evacuation, which is expected to occur between 0300 GMT and 0500 GMT when the ship anchors near Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Local authorities have advised that the evacuation must take place between Sunday midday and Monday afternoon due to anticipated worsening stormy weather conditions by the end of May. The MV Hondius, a luxury cruise ship, departed from Cape Verde on Wednesday after being directed there by both WHO and EU authorities following the detection of the hantavirus outbreak.
As of Friday, eight individuals have contracted the virus, including three fatalities involving a Dutch couple and one German national.
Six cases are confirmed, with two additional suspected cases reported by WHO.
Hantavirus is typically transmitted from rodents but can occasionally be passed person-to-person in rare instances.
The evacuation will encompass all passengers and 17 crew members; however, 30 crew members will remain aboard to travel to the Netherlands.
Upon arrival in Tenerife, the ship will undergo full disinfection, and the bodies of deceased passengers, along with their luggage, will stay on board.
Spanish citizens will be the first to disembark, with further evacuation order determined by health authorities.
No passenger will be allowed to disembark until their respective evacuation plane is ready for departure.
