Fernando Clavijo, the leader for the islands that sit just over 60 miles off the Moroccan coast, said Wednesday that he would not “blindly endanger the safety of the Canary Islands population” by letting crew and passengers onboard the MV Hondius to receive medical examinations should the cruise ship dock.
Read more: What to Know About Hantavirus Amid a Suspected Cruise-Ship Outbreak
Hantavirus is predominantly spread by contact with the urine, droppings, and saliva of rats or mice, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can also, on rare occasions, spread through scratches or bites from rodents.
Clavijo’s refusal runs counter to Tuesday’s announcement by the Spanish Health Ministry, which said such an arrival would go ahead. “Spain has a moral and legal obligation to help these people, among whom are also several Spanish citizens,” the ministry said. “Crew and passengers will be properly examined, cared for and transferred to their respective countries.”
The regional president said that the original procedure was “to evacuate the hantavirus patients by air ambulance, and for the rest to remain on the ship and be transferred to the country of origin of this vessel, which is the Netherlands.”
Oceanwide Expeditions, which operates the MV Hondius, said on Wednesday that the planned destination for the vessel following the stop in Cape Verde was still the Canary Islands.
A team of medical staff in hazmat suits was seen conducting the evacuation, disembarking the patients from the ship onto a smaller boat, which then headed back to port in Praia, the capital.
Clavijo argued that the planned examinations in the Canary Islands could instead take place in Cape Verde, where the vessel was as of Wednesday morning. “Why subject these passengers to a three-day voyage to the Canary Islands to do the same thing here that they can do in Cape Verde,” he told COPE.
TIME has reached out to the Spanish government for comment.
Who has died from hantavirus and who is infected?
Three of those infected have died, the first of whom was a Dutch national, who died on April 11. The cause of death could not be determined onboard the ship, Oceanwide Expeditions said.
A British national is reported to have become seriously ill, and was evacuated to receive medical treatment in South Africa. The patient is in intensive care, but said to be improving, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove of WHO said on Tuesday.
Hence then, the article about spanish islands refuse to take hantavirus ship as latest patient arrives in hospital was published today ( ) and is available on Time ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Spanish Islands Refuse To Take Hantavirus Ship, As Latest Patient Arrives in Hospital )
Also on site :