90-Second Read: Spanish island braces for Hantavirus cruise ship as WHO urges calm amid protests

The head of the World Health Organization made an appeal to locals in Tenerife to remain calm it prepared to receive passengers from a Hantavirus-hit cruise ship that has left three people dead and sparked growing local outrage. Residents have taken to the streets in recent days to protest the impending arrival of the MV Hondius to the Canary Islands after the Spanish government overruled local leaders to grant permission for the ship to anchor offshore Sunday. Protests continued Friday, with residents chanting, "Yes to tourism, no to the virus." Eight cases of Hantavirus have been linked to the outbreak aboard the ship, according to the latest WHO update Saturday, and three people have died. Many on the tourism-reliant island worry that even a carefully coordinated disembarkation could harm the region's image and economy.

Several nations, including the U.S., Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands, have sent planes to evacuate their citizens, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said Saturday. Thirty crew members will stay aboard the ship and sail to the Netherlands for the disinfection process, along with the body of one of the passengers who died. The Americans aboard the ship will be taken to Nebraska for monitoring and assessment, but they will not be placed under quarantine, the official said. Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a direct appeal to locals Saturday, reassuring them that Sunday's operation posed little risk to the public. Tedros also said he would travel to Tenerife to "observe this operation firsthand, to stand alongside the health workers, port staff and officials who are making it happen." Dr. Passengers and crew members without symptoms will be flow to their home countries, she said. Department of Health and Human Services official who was also at the briefing said that the risk to the American public remains extremely low and that there is no indication of increased risk to routine travel.

The overall monitoring period will last 42 days and not necessarily take place entirely in Nebraska, as it will include self-monitoring after travelers return home, according to the official. Daniele Hamamdjian and Mo Abbas reported from Tenerife, Mithil Aggarwal from London and Mirna Alsharif from New York City. No one currently aboard the ship has any symptoms, and contact tracing is underway to determine those who were likely to have been exposed.