The UK Health Security Agency has reported the identification of a third suspected case of hantavirus in a British citizen on the island of Tristan da Cunha. Two individuals of that nationality have already been confirmed as hantavirus cases as part of the monitoring of the disease that has resulted in the deaths of three passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
The World Health Organization had warned on Thursday that "possible" new cases could arise, although the outbreak should remain "limited" if public health measures are implemented. "To date, eight cases have been reported, including three deaths. Five of these eight cases have been confirmed as caused by hantavirus, while the other three are considered suspected," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday.
The ship continues its journey towards Tenerife, where it is expected to arrive on Sunday. On board are 149 people from 23 nationalities but none are showing symptoms. Regarding the evacuation protocol, the Canary Islands government has stated that they have contacted all countries with citizens involved in this health crisis. Currently, it is confirmed that three planes will arrive on the island, from the United States, Great Britain, and Spain.
Mónica García will appear in Congress to explain her management of the hantavirus
The Minister of Health, Mónica García, assured on Friday that she will "of course" appear in the Congress of Deputies to report on how she has managed the imminent reception of the 'MV Hondius' ship, where an outbreak of hantavirus was recorded. She stated this in statements to RNE, collected by Servimedia, when directly asked if she will provide explanations in Congress as demanded by the opposition.
"Of course. We are going to provide all the explanations. We have been providing them from minute one," she promised. "Of course, we will provide all the explanations of all the meetings we have had at the international level, of all the meetings we have had at the national level, of all the decisions, what is the rationale for why we have made certain decisions," she said.
Furthermore, García did not want to "get into sterile controversies with the Popular Party" about not being informed or, in the case of the Community of Madrid, about why the Spanish patients will be taken to the Gómez Ulla Hospital. "I don't think it's appropriate now."
Spanish passengers on the ship are aware of the plans for their disembarkation, according to the Secretary of State for Health
Javier Padilla, Secretary of State for Health, stated on Las Mañana de la 1, that he maintains direct and personal contact with the Spanish passengers on board. From his conversations with them, he highlighted that "they are well, in good health without symptoms." He also addressed their mood: "Although they mentioned difficult moments during the journey from Cape Verde, the general mood was more positive in the last moments."
Padilla explained that the Spanish passengers are aware of the plans for their disembarkation: "They will anchor in Tenerife, from there they will take a bus to the airport and board a military flight to Madrid and then to the Gómez Ulla hospital for monitoring," said the secretary, as reported by Pilar Pérez.
Finally, the secretary pointed out that the passengers are well informed about the situation, "as they have fluid communication with family and acquaintances from the ship, something very different from what would have happened years ago on a similar journey."
Isolated disembarkation of the population
The ship will remain anchored off the port of Granadilla (Tenerife) on Sunday at noon. The passengers will be transferred in groups of five by boats to the port - which does not have the infrastructure to accommodate passengers - and from there to the planes. The operation will be completely isolated from the population and cordoned off, as well as the vehicles and the airport area, although the final details are still to be determined.
No one will leave the ship until their transport has arrived at the nearby Tenerife South airport (located ten minutes by car from the port). Pedro Suárez, President of the Port Authority of Tenerife, explained on La1 that "the vehicles will be at the dock to directly receive the passengers and transport them directly from there to the plane."
Spain is coordinating the arrival of planes from countries that want to pick up their compatriots, or those who wish to do so jointly. Currently, the arrival of a Boeing 747 from the United States and another plane from the United Kingdom is planned, in addition to the one announced by the Spanish government to transfer the affected individuals to Madrid.
WHO confirms that the KLM flight attendant has tested negative for hantavirus
The World Health Organization reported on Friday that the flight attendant from the Dutch airline KLM Royal Dutch Airlines tested negative for a possible Hantavirus infection, after being in contact with a woman who died from the virus in Johannesburg, according to Reuters.
The woman had been admitted to a hospital in Amsterdam on Thursday with symptoms compatible with a possible infection.
UK announces a new suspected case of hantavirus in a British citizen
The UK Health Security Agency has reported the identification of an additional suspected case of hantavirus in a British citizen on the island of Tristan da Cunha, as part of the monitoring of the deadly outbreak on a luxury cruise ship in the South Atlantic, as reported by Reuters.
Two British men have tested positive for hantavirus, with one remaining in stable condition in the Netherlands after being evacuated from the ship on Wednesday, while the other is in intensive care after being flown to South Africa.
Evacuation protocol for the cruise ship in the Canary Islands
Regarding the evacuation protocol, the Canary Islands government has stated that they have already contacted all countries with citizens involved in this health crisis. Currently, it is confirmed that three planes will arrive on the island, from the United States, Great Britain, and Spain. "Tomorrow, at 10 a.m., the rest of the countries with which communication has been established are expected to respond," pointed out the spokesperson for the Canary Islands government, Alfonso Cabello.
And regarding the ship's crew, in case of any need, the responsibility will fall on the country that the Law of the Sea obliges, that is, the flag state of the ship: the Netherlands. Additionally, other countries have been asked to provide support if needed.
"We are waiting for tomorrow to be presented with the detailed protocol to follow once the ship arrives, and we are coordinating for the rest of the actions to ensure that everything takes place in an environment of maximum guarantees for the personnel of the Canary Islands Health Service, technical staff involved, and for the population of the Canary Islands, the main concern of the Government of the Canary Islands," explained Alfonso Cabello, as reported by Europa Press.
Canary Islands activates the infectious diseases protocol
The Government of the Canary Islands has activated the infectious diseases protocol ahead of the arrival on Sunday of the 'HV Hondius' cruise ship, affected by an outbreak of hantavirus, in Canary waters.
This was reported by the government spokesperson, Alfonso Cabello, in statements to the media in Tenerife at the end of the coordination meeting between the Government of the Canary Islands and the State to analyze the situation surrounding the health crisis.
Furthermore, the regional government expects to have the final protocol to be applied from the planned anchoring of the ship until the arrival of the planes that will evacuate the cruise passengers.
Health Exterior has informed the Government of the Canary Islands that, currently, the health status of the passengers and crew of the ship "is good" within the situation they are in: "None have had any symptoms since April 28."
Two people who traveled on the cruise ship isolated in Chile
The Ministry of Health of Chile reported on Thursday that it instructed the preventive isolation of two Chilean nationals who boarded the MV Hondius cruise ship. "Although both individuals do not have any symptoms attributable to hantavirus and are in good health, due to the situation on the ship, they are undergoing epidemiological monitoring that includes virus testing," explained the Health Ministry.
"The Ministry reiterates its commitment to keeping the public informed of any relevant developments in this matter," emphasized the health authority, as reported by Efe.