Passengers on a cruise ship linked to an epidemic of hantavirus have arrived in Spain, where officials have confirmed they are working closely with international health agencies to limit the disease’s spread and have increased emergency health measures.
Madrid is cooperating with the World Health Organization and the European Commission to monitor what Virginia Barcones, chief of emergency services in Spain, called “isolated” evacuations of afflicted passengers.
Spanish authorities said stringent containment measures were being taken to ensure passengers are relocated under controlled conditions, while health authorities continue to monitor suspected infections linked to the virus-stricken ship.
The cruise liner hit the international headlines after some guests were said to have shown symptoms of hantavirus, an uncommon but deadly disease often caught from contact with sick rodents or their droppings. As the ship made its way to Europe, health authorities across the continent have now increased surveillance.
“We are in a position to carry out this operation, with our emergency teams in Spain, always minimizing the risks to public health,” Barcones said. The reaction plan reportedly includes deployment of medical professionals, isolation units and specialised transport methods.
The World Health Organization has been closely following the issue with European health agencies, as investigators continue to trace the contacts and test passengers and crew members.
Officials have not yet released the overall number of confirmed cases, but numerous European countries are said to be monitoring travelers who may have disembarked the vessel earlier.
Health experts say hantavirus infections are rare but can cause severe respiratory problems in severe cases. Symptoms generally include fever, muscle aches, tiredness and difficulty breathing.
European officials have called for calm, saying they are implementing containment and isolation steps to prevent the possibility of broader transmission.
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