90-Second Read: WHO head will oversee evacuation of passengers, crew from Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship

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. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. On board the cruise ship, some Spanish passengers have voiced concern about being stigmatized.

Health authorities across four continents were tracking down and monitoring more than two dozen passengers who disembarked before the deadly outbreak was detected. 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. I know that when you hear the word 'outbreak' and watch a ship sail toward your shores, memories surface that none of us have fully put to rest. My colleagues and I have said this unequivocally, and I will say it again to you now," Tedros added.

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 crew. The WHO, Spanish authorities and cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions said nobody on the Hondius is currently showing symptoms of the virus. According to a letter sent by the Dutch foreign and health ministers to parliament late Friday, Spain has activated the EU civil protection mechanism for a medical evacuation plane equipped for infections diseases to be on standby in case anyone on the ship becomes ill. Three people who were on the flight and had symptoms have all tested negative for Hantavirus, Dutch National Institute for Public Health spokesperson Harald Wychgel told The Associated Press on Saturday. Symptoms.

Why not anywhere else, why bring it to the Canary Islands?" Others said they empathized with the boat's passengers, but were still concerned. Oceanwide has listed 13 Spanish passengers and one Spanish crew member on board. But we also need to have empathy." Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia said passengers and some crew would disembark in Tenerife "under maximum safety conditions." The ship will not dock but will remain at anchor. Those without symptoms will go into home quarantine for six weeks and be monitored by local health services. On April 24, nearly two weeks after the first passenger had died on board, more than two dozen people from at least 12 different countries left the ship without contact tracing, Dutch officials and the ship's operator have said.