Evacuation of Passengers from Hantavirus-Affected Ship Concludes
The Spanish Ministry of Health announced the cessation of operations following the evacuation of passengers from a ship where a hantavirus outbreak occurred. Throughout the day, individuals were systematically removed from the vessel and transported to Granadilla port. The process involved the use of boats to disembark passengers, who were provided with disinfected clothing and masks.
Subsequently, military buses transported them to the airport for onward international flights via specially chartered aircraft. As of this reporting, 94 passengers have been evacuated. These individuals represent citizens from 19 different countries.
The World Health Organization’s General Secretary, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed concerns regarding the United States’ relaxed approach to returning citizens from the ship. He stated that the U.S.’s current policy, which allows for the return of individuals, “entails risks.” Ghebreyesus advised against any restrictions on the return of those affected by the hantavirus outbreak. The ongoing situation is being monitored closely by international health organizations.
