3 evacuated from hantavirus cruise ship as Spain says it will dock in Canary Islands despite local opposition
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Three patients suspected of hantavirus infection were evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship and are en route to the Netherlands for medical care, with the virus having caused three deaths among cruise passengers.
- The cruise ship is heading to the Canary Islands for a full investigation and inspection, despite local government opposition, with Spanish authorities coordinating the docking and health assessments.
- Several countries, including the UK, South Africa, Switzerland, and France, have reported cases or contacts linked to the cruise, with the Andes strain of hantavirus identified, which can transmit between humans.
- The WHO and CDC emphasize the low risk of a pandemic, noting hantavirus transmission requires close contact and is not spread by asymptomatic individuals, while passengers remain mostly confined to their cabins.
- Authorities are preparing for potential quarantine measures lasting up to eight weeks due to the virus's incubation period, and infectious disease specialists have been dispatched to support the cruise ship's response.
