Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, has announced, MV Hondius, the Cruise Ship linked with Hantavirus, has left the shores of Tenerife, a Spanish Island.
All passengers have “safely” alighted from the ship and are “on their way home”, Ghebreyesus made known on X.
Almost twenty (20) American passengers from the cruise ship arrived in Nebraska State on Monday and were quarantined. One of the passengers tested positive to a variant of hantavirus, while, another displayed mild symptoms.
The WHO DG commended Spain for carrying out this “complex operation in style”, saying, he observed the “professionalism”.
According to Ghebreyesus: “MV Hondius has now left the shores of Tenerife. All passengers have safely disembarked and are either on their way or have arrived home.
” #Spain executed this complex operation in style and I’m not surprised — I witnessed outstanding leadership, professionalism and expertise.”
Ghebreyesus, however, admitted, there is still work to do as WHO, the United Nations (UN) Health Agency, work intimately with experts from countries affected by hantavirus. He said, the “work is not over”.
WHO has appealed to these countries to send reports on the “health and well-being” of passengers and crew to the Organization through the IHR platform on a weekly basis.
The WHO Chief said: “But the work is not over. @WHO continues to work closely with experts from all the countries involved. We have requested that they report to WHO on the health and well-being of passengers and crew through the IHR platform weekly.”
He added: “Continued international coordination is essential to protect everyone’s health.”
Photo: MV Hondius | CRUISEMAPPER
