The World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health have agreed to send a team of epidemiologists this Tuesday to assess the situation aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, affected by a hantavirus outbreak that has already left three dead and several suspected cases.
The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, remains anchored off Cape Verde while its final destination is decided based on the epidemiological evolution.
Key evaluation before making decisions
The medical inspection seeks to determine the condition of the 147 occupants of the ship, identify possible new infections, and classify risk contacts. This data will be decisive in determining both the ship's route and the evacuation and repatriation processes.
From Health they underline that, until having this information, no definitive decision will be made, despite the fact that a possible stopover in the Canary Islands had initially been considered.
Evacuations and international coordination
It is planned to evacuate by air two passengers with symptoms compatible with the virus to the Netherlands, while a third case considered high-risk will be transferred to Germany.
The operation is part of a coordinated international response, with the participation of several European countries in the face of an outbreak that has affected passengers of different nationalities.
Canary Islands, at the center of the debate
Although the WHO had pointed to a possible arrival of the ship to the islands, the Spanish Government has clarified that it would only happen if new cases appear during the journey.
From the Canary Islands, the authorities have shown their preference for the ship not to call at the archipelago and to continue towards the Netherlands, under whose flag it sails.
According to the WHO, seven cases in total have been identified, including three deaths, one critical patient, and several with mild symptoms. The main hypothesis points to the first infections occurring during a previous stay in South America, with subsequent transmission within the ship.
Hantavirus, associated with rodents, can cause severe conditions with rapid progression to pneumonia and respiratory failure, which explains the severity of some detected cases.