EU says public risk 'low' as Spain responds to hantavirus cruise ship outbreak

Initial assessments indicate that the hantavirus outbreak detected on the cruise ship sailing towards the Canary Islands poses a "low" risk to the general population, according to the European Commission (EC).

Health spokesperson Eva Hrncirova said on Wednesday that the EC is working "in close coordination" with the authorities of all affected member states, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, which has been activated in Spain.

Safeguarding public health remains the European executive's "absolute priority," she added.

Flight attendant hospitalized 

A KLM flight attendant has been hospitalized following a possible hantavirus infection after coming into contact with a 69-year-old Dutch passenger who later died from the virus on April 26.

The airline said in a statement that the infected passenger had briefly been on board a KLM aircraft the day before her death in Johannesburg, South Africa, but was not allowed to fly due to her medical condition.

According to Dutch media, the crew member who had contact with the passenger is now hospitalized in Amsterdam, where she is isolated and undergoing testing. She is reported to have mild symptoms.

Patient transferred to Amsterdam

Spain's Health Ministry confirmed on Thursday morning that a patient with suspected hantavirus symptoms who landed at Gran Canaria Airport on Wednesday has been transferred to Amsterdam.

The aircraft carrying the patient landed in the Canary Islands to refuel after being denied clearance by Moroccan authorities.

During the stopover, a malfunction was detected in the patient support system onboard the aircraft.

The patient was ultimately transferred to a different medical aircraft, while the original plane later departed without passengers or patients onboard, carrying only the crew.

Evacuation of passengers

The evacuation of passengers from the MV Hondius is expected to begin on Monday, May 11, Spain's interior ministry said on Wednesday evening.

The vessel has departed Cape Verde for Tenerife, a journey expected to last three and a half days.

Spain's Defence Ministry will oversee the transfer of the 14 Spanish passengers to Madrid's Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital.

EU member states will be offered the option of organising the repatriation of their own nationals, while the European Commission will arrange transport for EU passengers whose countries are unable to do so.

Quarantine

Spain's Health Minister has expressed confidence that the 14 Spanish nationals will comply with a voluntary quarantine upon arrival.

However, Mónica García noted that the government also has legal tools available to enforce isolation measures if necessary in order to protect public health.

The proposed quarantine period would last 45 days, although authorities are still working to determine what will be considered 'day 0.'

Spain prepares for cruise ship's arrival

The Spanish government has scheduled eight coordination meetings on Thursday to address the situation surrounding the cruise ship, involving Spanish authorities, the Canary Islands government and European institutions.

Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo has opposed the vessel's transfer to the archipelago and criticised what he described as insufficient communication from Spain's central government.

Catalonia offers support

Catalonia's foreign minister, Jaume Duch, has offered assistance to the Spanish government in managing Catalan residents aboard the cruise ship affected by the hantavirus outbreak.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Duch said Catalonia "has the infrastructure" and is prepared to receive the passengers if needed.

At the same time, he expressed "full support" for the Spanish government's decision to place Spanish passengers under quarantine at a military hospital in Madrid.

"The Spanish government has taken a series of measures that are recommended by the World Health Organization," he said.

Duch also said Catalan passengers on board the ship "are well" and confirmed that the Catalan Health Department is in "permanent contact" with their families.

Catalan President Salvador Illa called for responsibility and coordination between administrations, stressing that public health is not something to be taken lightly.

In a social media post on Thursday, he underlined the importance of placing science and institutional loyalty above all else, and urged everyone to "rise to the occasion" in what he described as an exceptional moment, adding that "Catalonia will do so."

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the total number of hantavirus cases on the luxury cruise ship to eight.

Five residents of Catalonia are on board the cruise ship, according to the Public Health Agency of Catalonia.