All passengers on hantavirus-hit ship considered high-risk contacts, EU health agency says
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Eight people on the MV Hondius, which has been hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, have fallen ill, including three who died, the World Health Organization said on May 8.
PHOTO: REUTERS
All passengers on the cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak are considered high-risk contacts as a precautionary measure, Europe’s public health agency said ahead of the ship's expected anchoring on May 10 off the Spanish island of Tenerife.
Passengers without symptoms will be repatriated for self-quarantine via specially arranged transport, not regular commercial flights, by their respective countries, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said on May 9 as part of its expedited scientific advice.
Countries were preparing to evacuate their citizens from the MV Hondius from around 6.30am to 7am GMT (2.30pm to 3pm Singapore time).
Eight people have fallen ill, including three who died – a Dutch couple and a German national – the World Health Organization (WHO) said on May 8. Six of the eight are confirmed to have contracted the virus, with another two suspected cases, the WHO has said.
Although passengers will be considered high-risk at disembarkation, not all will necessarily be considered high-risk upon return to their home countries, the ECDC said.
A mobile medical facility has been set up at the port of Granadilla de Abona on Tenerife, Spain, where the cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to dock.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The agency urged symptomatic passengers to be prioritised for medical assessment and testing on arrival, adding that they may be isolated on Tenerife or medically evacuated home, depending on their condition.
The virus is usually spread by rodents but can, in rare cases, be transmitted person to person. Health authorities have said the risk of the virus spreading is low. REUTERS
