The WHO chief left for Tenerife to oversee the arrival of a hantavirus-infected ship on Sunday

In a rare private message to the island’s residents on Saturday, Dr Tedros confirmed he would travel to the Spanish territory to oversee the disembarkation of nearly 150 passengers and crew, following a hantavirus outbreak on the ship that has claimed three lives.

“It’s unusual for me to write directly to people in one community, but now I am I think this is not only appropriate, but necessaryhe said.

Fresh COVID memories

“I know you’re worried…The pain of 2020 is still real, and I don’t ignore it for a second. But I want you to hear me clearly: this is not another COVID.”

The ship was carrying the Andean strain of hantavirus, a serious respiratory disease that is the only type of virus that is transmitted from human to human (checkout WHO‘S Hantavirus fact sheet here).

According to the latest WHO situation reportthere were eight cases linked to the ship, six of which were laboratory confirmed. However, Tedros stressed that the risk to the general public remains “low”.

A ‘security corridor’

Spanish authorities have set strict protocols to ensure the virus does not enter local communities. The ship will dock at the industrial port of Granadilla on Sunday, located far from residential areas.

Passengers will be transported in “sealed and guarded vehicles, through completely closed corridors,” and returned directly to their countries of origin.. “You will not meet them. Your family will not meet them,” the Director General assured.

WHO’s decision to request Spain’s assistance was made based on the International Health Regulations, which mandate that the nearest port with adequate medical capacity must provide assistance during an international health emergency.

International solidarity

Tedro praised Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the people of Tenerife for fulfilling what he described as a “moral obligation”. The passengers on board represented 23 different countries and had been at sea for several weeks.

“Tenerife was chosen because it has the medical, infrastructure and humanitarian capacity to help them achieve safety,” said Tedros.

“I intend to travel to Tenerife to…personally pay tribute to an island that has responded to a difficult situation with great grace, solidarity and compassion.”

That MV Hondius has been at the center of international tracing efforts after the first possible case – a male passenger traveling through South America – died on the plane in mid-April. Since then, many cases have been hospitalized in South Africa, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Currently, there are no symptomatic passengers remaining on the ship. A WHO expert was already on board the ship to monitor the situation as it reaches the Canary Islands on Sunday.

Concluding his message, Tedros called for confidence in public health preparations: “As I have said many times: viruses don’t care about politics, and they don’t respect national borders. The best immunity we have is solidarity.”