Tenerife, May 11: An evacuation operation is underway for passengers and crew members from the MV Hondius, a cruise ship affected by hantavirus infection. Spain’s Health Secretary Javier Padilla announced that over 90 individuals are expected to be safely evacuated. He shared on social media that the evacuation is proceeding as planned, with citizens from various countries being sent to their destinations.
According to a video released by Spain’s Ministry of Home Affairs’ Civil Protection and Emergency branch, by Sunday afternoon, 49 passengers and crew members from 14 different countries had been safely evacuated. Authorities reported that citizens from the UK, Turkey, France, Ireland, and the USA were also evacuated by late Sunday. The administration anticipates that the total number of evacuees will exceed 90.
Information indicates that the final evacuation flight will depart on Monday, carrying Australian citizens. Meanwhile, the Netherlands is preparing to send a special ‘sweep flight’ to bring back individuals who have not yet been repatriated.
In the meantime, the World Health Organization (WHO) has shared important information regarding hantavirus. According to the WHO, hantavirus is a zoonotic virus typically found in rodents like mice and can occasionally spread to humans. This infection can lead to severe illness and, in some cases, death.
The WHO noted that in the United States, this virus causes hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), which rapidly affects the lungs and heart. In Europe and Asia, it leads to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which damages the kidneys and blood vessels.
Currently, there is no specific treatment for this disease, but timely medical care and continuous monitoring can save a patient’s life. The WHO stated that the best way to prevent infection is to maintain distance from infected rodents.
Experts warn that the virus can spread through contact with the urine, saliva, or feces of infected mice. Additionally, cleaning in enclosed and poorly ventilated spaces, working in agriculture or forests, or sleeping in areas infested with rodents can increase the risk of infection.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.