The MV Hondius cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak on board is heading to the Canary Islands where it will arrive this weekend. Three people have died and there are at least nine suspected cases confirmed or under investigation. Spain is coordinating the disembarkation and quarantine of passengers.
The ship, which departed from Argentina on March 20, will not dock in the port of Tenerife. Passengers will be transferred by boats to an isolated area and then to the airport for evacuation.
Spain activated isolation protocols at the Gómez Ulla Hospital for its 14 citizens, all asymptomatic so far. Planes from the United States, the United Kingdom and Spain will transport their nationals on Sunday.
The Andes strain is circulating on the ship and is transmitted between humans. More than 30 passengers disembarked in Santa Elena without follow-up, according to the company Oceanwide Expeditions. Countries such as Uruguay, Chile and the Netherlands ruled out infections in their territories.
Argentina's Ministry of Health criticized the WHO for asking it to reconsider its exit from the organization. Argentina will send 2,500 diagnostic tests to five countries.
