World Health Organization chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on Tuesday, May 12, that “our work is not over” to contain hantavirus following the evacuation of a cruise ship hit by a deadly outbreak.
The situation surrounding the MV Hondius has sparked international concern after three passengers died from the rare virus, which currently lacks specific vaccines or treatments.
Despite the alarm, health officials have stressed that the global public health risk remains low and have rejected comparisons to the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Madrid with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Tedros noted that there is no sign of a larger outbreak starting, though he cautioned that the situation could change. He explained that due to the long incubation period of the virus, additional cases might emerge in the coming weeks. Over 120 passengers and crew were flown out from Spain’s Canary Islands recently, with various countries adopting different health protocols for returning citizens.
While most nations are following WHO guidelines which include a 42-day quarantine and constant monitoring, the United States has indicated through acting CDC director Jay Bhattacharya that American passengers may not necessarily face quarantine. Tedros expressed hope that all countries would adhere to the WHO’s recommendations to ensure consistency in the global response.
The MV Hondius faced significant diplomatic hurdles, as countries negotiated over where the vessel could dock. Cape Verde refused entry, leaving the ship anchored offshore while some passengers were evacuated by air. Spain eventually allowed the vessel to anchor off the Canary Islands for evacuations, a move that faced fierce opposition from the local regional government.
Prime Minister Sanchez defended the decision, stating that the world needs solidarity and countries willing to step forward rather than more fear or selfishness.