One of the passengers on board the ship with cases of hantavirus says that the majority of the vessel’s occupants reacted “very calmly” to the situation. To date, three people have died and at least eight are infected. The ship has been offshore since Sunday of Praia, a city in Cape Verde, prevented from docking.
In a video published on social media, Kasem Ibn Hattuta reports that, contrary to what has been said, the majority of cruise passengers MV Hondius reacted to respiratory virus infections with “very calm”.
In the same statement, he suggests that the first person to die may have been the person who brought the hantavirus onto the cruise.
“This virus is not a new virus for the world. If it were to be a pandemic, it would have happened a long time ago, but what is happening now is that media are exaggerating”, defends the passenger.
A (WHO) confirms that there is at least eight cases of hantavirus on the cruise, which is off Cape Verde. Three infected people have already been removed from the ship to receive medical assistance.
The WHO admits that it was transmitted from person to person, but reiterates that the risk of transmission is very low. He clarifies that infections with this virus only occur in very close contact.
There are still three deaths on board that could be linked to hantavirus.
Canary Islands refuse to accept cruise passengers
Fernando Clavijo asked for one “urgent meeting” with the head of the Spanish Government. But Pedro Sánchez admits accepting the ship, at the request of the World Health Organization, and in accordance with international law.
Residents of the Canary Islands are concerned about the possible reception of the ship’s passengers.
In view of the disagreement, the Spanish Ministry of Health designated Tenerife as reference center for medical assistance to passengers on board the MV Hondius.
The cruise, since Sunday off Praia, a city in Cape Verde, had as its initial plan to head to the Canary Islands, where it would carry out a “thorough investigation” and a “thorough epidemiological investigation”.
With 149 people (88 passengers) of 23 nationalities, it was traveling between Ushuaia, Argentina, where it left on March 20, and the Canary Islands, with stops in the South Atlantic for wildlife observation tourism.
Hantavirus: what is it, how does it spread and what symptoms does it cause?
As are, as a rule, related to the exposure to feces and secretions of wild or infected rodents, like mice.
Although rare, contagion can occur between people, through close physical contact.
The infection initially manifests itself through symptoms very similar to those of the flu, as a sudden fever, headaches e muscle painsometimes accompanied by abdominal symptoms. In addition to these, it also includes cough, shortness of breathe e kidney problems. There are still cases of dizziness, chills and gastric problems.
