In a critical move to contain a growing health crisis, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) arrived in Spain this Saturday, May 9, to coordinate the safe disembarkation of passengers from a cruise ship battling a hantavirus outbreak.
The official is currently in Tenerife, working closely with Spanish government officials to ensure that all remaining passengers can return home safely without further spreading the virus. The outbreak, which began last week while the ship was off the west coast of Africa, has already claimed three lives.
The situation has sparked an international monitoring effort. Officials from five different countries, including the United States, are tracking passengers who disembarked early from the cruise before the outbreak was officially announced. Five of these early returnees have since been confirmed as cases of hantavirus.
Addressing the concerns of its citizens, the U.S. government announced on Friday that it is offering to facilitate the return of American passengers still on board the vessel. As the WHO leads the response on the ground, the global health community remains vigilant in managing the containment and treatment of those affected.
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Passengers to return home from hantavirus-striken cruise ship
cgtn.com
