GENEVA: The head of the World Health Organization said on Saturday that he had arrived in Spain and would join government officials to oversee the disembarkation of a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship in the Canary Islands.
“I have arrived in Spain, where I will join senior government officials on a mission to Tenerife to oversee the safe disembarkation of passengers, crew members and health experts from the cruise ship MV Hondius,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at X.
Three passengers from the MV Hondius — a Dutch husband and wife and a German woman — have died, while others have contracted the rare disease, which is usually spread among rodents.
The only type of hantavirus that can be transmitted from person to person, Andes virus, has been confirmed among those who have tested positive, prompting international concern.
The Dutch-flagged ship, which has around 150 people on board, is expected to arrive on the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife on Sunday. Special flights will then take the passengers to their countries of origin.
