Spania primește în următoarele zile un vas de croazieră cu un presupus focar de hantavirus

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SPAIN WILL RECEIVE a cruise ship stricken by a deadly hantavirus outbreak in “three to four days”, in the Canary Islands, the health ministry said.
“The exact port of arrival has not yet been determined,” it said, adding: “Once there, the crew and passengers will be duly examined, cared for, and transferred to their respective countries”.
It follows the World Health Organisation (WHO) earlier saying it suspects human-to-human transmission following a presumed hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
“We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that is happening among the really close contacts,” the WHO’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director Maria Van Kerkhove, told reporters.
She added that there was a suspicion the person first sickened was infected before boarding the cruise ship, currently anchored off Cape Verde.
Three people have died and two cases of the virus have been confirmed, tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions said.
Earlier it was reported that a British and a Dutch crew member required “urgent medical care” and a passenger from the UK remains in a critical but stable condition aboard the vessel.
Two Irish passengers are among the 149 people on the MV Hondius, a polar cruise vessel. 
WHO earlier said that Spain would “welcome” the ship, but the Spanish health ministry said they would not make a decision on the matter until epidemiological data had been analysed.
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“Based on the epidemiological data collected from the ship during its stopover in Cape Verde, it will be decided which port of call is most appropriate. Until then, the Ministry of Health will not take any decision, as we have informed the World Health Organization,” the ministry said.
In a statement last night, Oceanwide Expeditions said it continues to deal with a serious medical situation on board.
It said two crew members continue to present acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe, and both of which “require urgent medical care”.
At this time, no other persons with symptoms have been identified.
Meanwhile, Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that a variant of hantavirus has been identified as being present in the female Dutch national who died on 27 April 2026 after disembarking in Saint Helena.
The other confirmed case involves a British passenger who is receiving care in South Africa.
Hantavirus infections, which are usually spread by infected rodents’ urine or faeces, can lead to severe respiratory illness and can sometimes be fatal.
Oceanwide Expeditions said the atmosphere on board the m/v Hondius “remains calm, with passengers generally composed”.
It added that work is ongoing to “expedite their disembarkation and medical screening” and that it is “upholding stringent health and safety procedures”.
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