90-Second Read: 'This is not another COVID': WHO seeks to reassure Spanish island as Hantavirus-stricken ship approaches

The head of the World Health Organization is seeking to reassure residents of the Spanish island of Tenerife worried about the anticipated arrival there of a Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship. The current public health risk from Hantavirus remains low. Three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who left the ship are infected with Hantavirus. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with Spain's Health Minister Monica Garcia and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, were due on the island Saturday to coordinate the disembarkation of passengers and some members of the crew.

Meanwhile onboard the cruise ship, some Spanish passengers have voiced concern about being stigmatized. It wasn't until May 2 that health authorities first confirmed Hantavirus in a passenger. Dutch public health authorities have been monitoring people who were on a flight that was briefly boarded by a Dutch ship passenger who later died and was confirmed to have Hantavirus. Why did they have to bring a boat from another country here?

The WHO, Spanish authorities and cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions said nobody on the Hondius is currently showing symptoms of the virus. It usually spreads when people inhale contaminated residue of rodent droppings and isn't easily transmitted between people. Oceanwide Expeditions has listed 13 Spanish passengers and one Spanish crew member on board. Three people who were on the flight and had symptoms have all tested negative for the virus, Dutch National Institute for Public Health spokesperson Harald Wychgel told the Associated Press on Saturday.

All Spanish passengers will be transferred to a medical facility and quarantined, Garcia said. Health authorities across four continents were tracking down and monitoring more than two dozen passengers who disembarked before the deadly outbreak was detected. Those without symptoms will go into home quarantine for six weeks and be monitored by local health services.