The infected MV Hondius cruise ship has been blocked from docking in the Canary Islands over the ongoing hantavirus outbreak, the region’s president confirmed Wednesday.
“I cannot allow it to enter the Canary Islands,” Fernando Clavijo told local media outlet Onda Cero.
Conservative politician Clavijo has blasted Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez – a socialist – over the decision to allow the ship to dock, claiming it was “not based on any technical criteria, nor is there sufficient information to reassure the public or guarantee their safety.”
Investigators wearing white suits searching the deck of the infected MV Hondius. AP
He has also accused the government of showing “institutional disloyalty,” claiming Madrid has not kept him informed and has called for an urgent meeting, OK Diario reported.
The Madrid government said that, “Spain has a moral and legal obligation to assist these people, among whom are also several Spanish citizens.
“The World Health Organization has explained that Cape Verde is unable to carry out this operation.
“The Canary Islands are the closest location with the necessary capabilities.”
The virus-ridden ship, which has about 150 crew and passengers on board, had been preparing to travel to the Canary Islands after being stranded in West African waters off Cape Verde.
Authorities had refused to grant permission for the ship to dock over health concerns.
The ship would have to travel for four days before reaching the Canary Islands.
It had been expected to dock in either Tenerife or Gran Canaria, where those on board would be examined before being treated or repatriated back to their origin countries.
An ambulance boat is seen heading toward the liner. AFP via Getty Images
Three people are confirmed to have died in the outbreak and at least five are sickened.
Swiss authorities have since confirmed a passenger is being treated in a Zurich hospital for hantavirus.
The traveler — only identified as a man — returned to the country last month and went to the doctors when he noticed symptoms.
Hantavirus – the disease that killed Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa – is usually spread through rodent droppings, but health officials say they were told no rodents were found on board.
But one strain, “the Andes virus,” is alarming; it can be spread between people and carries a mortality rate of nearly 40%.
Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, told reporters Tuesday that “we do believe there may be some human-to-human transmission among very close contacts.”
Passengers on board the ship say they’ve been reading and watching movies, trying to keep themselves occupied while out at sea.
Photos taken inside the ship show an empty lounge area. AP
“Our days have been close to normal, just waiting for authorities to find a solution,” Qasem Elhato, 31, told the Associated Press.
“But morale on the ship is high and we’re keeping ourselves busy with reading, watching movies, having hot drinks and that kind of things.”
Elhato said passengers were wearing masks and practising social distancing – precautions taken during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Helene Goessaert, another passenger, said everyone is “in the same boat, literally.”
“We receive information at regular intervals. It is accurate. For the rest, it is a waiting game,” she said.
“Today we received fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. That was very important to us.”
Meanwhile, experts have told the Post that passengers could face up to eight weeks of quarantine.
The ship left Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1.
With Post wires