WHO chief reassures ‘worried’ Tenerife residents ahead of hantavirus ship arrival expected Sunday

The World Health Organization (WHO) director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, addressed concerns in Tenerife, Spain, ahead of the MV Hondius cruise ship’s arrival on Sunday, where three passengers have died from hantavirus. Tedros emphasized the risk remains low, stressing the outbreak differs from Covid-19 and that Spain’s carefully planned disembarkation process—including sealed vehicles and avoiding residential areas—will prevent public exposure. Spain’s Civil Defense announced the operation will begin at sunrise, with passengers disembarking in small inflatable boats by nationality. Fourteen Spanish nationals will be transported to a military hospital for PCR testing and isolation, while others will be repatriated directly. The ship will anchor at a designated safe distance in Granadilla port, as determined by maritime authorities. The WHO chief praised Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for accepting the ship, calling it an act of solidarity, and said he will visit Tenerife to observe the operation. Meanwhile, the U.S. CDC dispatched epidemiologists to assess American passengers, confirming the Andes variant poses no significant public risk. One source noted Americans will be flown back in a biocontainment aircraft, similar to Covid-19 evacuations. Tensions arose earlier when Canary Islands leader Fernando Clavijo opposed the docking, and port workers protested Friday over safety concerns. Spain’s Health Ministry outlined strict protocols, including twice-daily temperature checks and seven-day monitoring for passengers at the military hospital. The WHO reiterated that Tenerife’s infrastructure and medical capacity make it the safest location for handling the situation.