The shipping company Oceanwide, on which the MV Hondius cruise depends, has updated the list of travelers who left the ship on the island of Saint Helena, before the Hantavirus outbreak was declared. The number has gone from 23 to 30 of at least 12 nationalities. These include the body of the first deceased, when the cause of his death was unknown. In Spain, the Ministries of Health and Defense have launched disparate messages in recent hours about whether the confinement in the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid of the 14 Spanish travelers from the Antarctic cruise ship MV Hondius will be mandatory. The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, stated last night that the measure will be “voluntary” by specifying that those admitted must sign their consent since they are, in principle, asymptomatic people who cannot be subjected to a regime of deprivation of liberty. From Health they trust that “what these people and their families want is to be protected, cared for and receive the best possible medical treatment”, although they announce their intention to resort to “legal instruments” so that these people, considered risk contacts, comply with the quarantine. Meanwhile, the cruise MH Hondius sails across the Atlantic towards the island of Tenerife, where it is scheduled to dock next Sunday. On Monday the 14 Spaniards traveling on board will be transferred to Madrid.
