The World Health Organization officially confirmed that six cases of hantavirus infection were found aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. Of the eight cases initially reported, six tested positive for the deadly virus, sparking panic among passengers and crew.
The ship is currently en route to the Canary Islands, where it is expected to dock in Tenerife tomorrow morning. The director-general of the World Health Organization is expected to arrive at the site in person to closely oversee the complex evacuation of passengers and the required isolation measures.
As the ship nears the Spanish coast, concerns that the virus could spread to mainland Europe are already being felt. Italy's Health Ministry announced that it had activated an active monitoring procedure for four passengers who landed in Rome on a KLM flight.
According to reports, the four were on the same flight from Johannesburg as another passenger from the ship, who died in hospital on April 26 as a result of the disease. Italian authorities are now racing against time to ensure the virus has not entered the country through those passengers.
Britain is also preparing to receive citizens who were aboard the ship. Some 20 British nationals evacuated from the vessel will be transferred directly into isolation at Arrowe Park Hospital near Liverpool. Official health officials made clear to staff at the medical center that the measure was necessary to provide a safe and controlled environment for those classified by the World Health Organization as "high-risk contacts."
Maria Van Kerkhove, the organization's director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness, explained that everyone who had been on the ship would be required to undergo active monitoring for 42 days because of the high potential for transmission.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the crisis after meeting with the head of the World Health Organization, stressing that this was both a moral and legal obligation. He said Spain would stand by those in need of help and offer a safe harbor to the besieged ship as part of its commitment to international law and to European citizens. Spain's health minister added that the ship was expected to dock tomorrow between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., and that after the passengers were evacuated, some crew members would remain aboard as the ship continued on toward the Netherlands.
