A British crew member with suspected hantavirus has been medically evacuated from the cruise ship that has been struck by the outbreak.
The crew member, along with a Dutch colleague and another passenger, were taken from the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius for onward travel to the Netherlands on Wednesday ,the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed.
Britain is scrambling to get UK citizens caught up in the Hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship home as soon as possible, after the Canary Islands opposed the Spanish government’s decision to let the boat dock there.
Almost 150 people, 19 of which are British passengers and four British crew members, are currently trapped onboard the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius.
But efforts to get those on board to safety have been dealt a blow with the regional government on the autonomous Spanish islands rejecting a plan to allow the ship to stop in Tenerife.
The leader of the islands said this was due to “insufficient information” that public safety is guaranteed.
“This decision is not based on any technical criteria, nor is there sufficient information to reassure the public or guarantee their safety,” Fernando Clavijo, leader of the Canary Islands, told radio station COPE.
Despite this, the ship will continue on its three-day journey to the Canary Islands.
Three people who were aboard the cruise ship have died, after it set sail from Argentina to Cape Verde over a month ago, and an investigation has been launched into the cause of the outbreak.
Foreign Office staff have been speaking to Brits onboard by phone and email, while ministers are talking to counterparts from other counties on dealing with the crisis.
Foreign Office teams have been working with local authorities in Cape Verde and with the Dutch Government on safe medivacs for sick passengers at the earliest possible opportunity, ahead of the ship’s proposed move.
This emergency work includes detailed ongoing planning of routes for safe medical evacuation if required, as well as safe repatriation of all British nationals on board at the earliest opportunity.
The UK Health Security Agency is leading the Government’s response.
Official and ministerial level meetings have taken place to oversee the response, chaired by the Health Department and attended by the Chief Medical Officer.
Two crew members, including the ship’s reportedly British doctor, requiring urgent medical treatment were evacuated on a hospital aircraft to the Canary Islands on Tuesday, the WHO confirmed. A third person linked to a German national who died was also evacuated.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the global health body, posted on X: “Three suspected hantavirus case patients have just been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to receive medical care in the Netherlands in co-ordination with WHO, the ship’s operator and national authorities from Cabo Verde, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands.
“WHO continues to work with the ship’s operators to closely monitor the health of passengers and crew, working with countries to support appropriate medical follow-up and evacuation where needed.
“Monitoring and follow-up for passengers on board and for those who have already disembarked has been initiated in collaboration with the ship’s operators and national health authorities.
“At this stage, the overall public health risk remains low.”
The ship is expected to arrive at the Canary Islands in three days, with the hope passengers and crew members would be examined and given the medical attention they may need before beginning their journeys back home.
But is is now unclear what will happen, as the regional government in the Canary Islands is opposed to allowing the ship to dock.
Clavijo has requested an urgent meeting with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to discuss the issue.
Tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions said in a statement: “At this stage, the planned destination for m/v Hondius following the successful medical transfer is the Canary Islands.
“Oceanwide Expeditions remains in close and continual discussion with relevant authorities regarding our exact point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and a precise timeline.
“We are unable to confirm the details of onward travel for guests at this stage. This is dependent on medical advice and the outcome of stringent screening procedures.”
Passengers are confined to their cabins while “disinfection and other public health measures are carried out”, the WHO said on Tuesday.
An update from health officials in Spain on Tuesday said: “The World Health Organisation has explained that Cape Verde cannot carry out this operation.
“The Canary Islands are the closest place with the necessary capabilities.
“Spain has a moral and legal obligation to help these people, among whom are also several Spanish citizens.”
Hantavirus is a group of viruses carried by rodents such as mice and rats, transmitted through their droppings or urine, but the WHO said in this case it could have spread among “really close contacts” aboard the ship.
It stressed the risk to the general public was low.