New Delhi, May 11: Two Indian crew members aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship affected by the Hanta virus, have been declared healthy after being evacuated in Spain. The ship arrived on Sunday, where Spanish health officials, following WHO protocols, safely disembarked all passengers. The two Indian nationals showed no symptoms and were sent to the Netherlands for further health monitoring.
According to information from the Indian Embassy in Spain, the Dutch-flagged vessel MV Hondius carried approximately 150 people, including the two Indian citizens. The ship was anchored off the coast of the Canary Islands due to concerns about the virus’s spread.
Passengers were disembarked according to protocols established by the WHO and Spanish authorities. The Indian crew members are in good health and do not exhibit any signs of illness.
As per the Spanish National Emergency Surveillance and Coordination Center (CENEM), the two Indian nationals were traveling as crew members. They have been sent to the Netherlands, where they will be quarantined under relevant health safety protocols.
The Indian Ambassador in Spain is in continuous contact with Spanish officials and is closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and well-being of the Indian citizens.
Buses operated by Spain’s Military Emergency Unit transported the evacuated individuals, under the protection of the Spanish Civil Guard, directly from the Granadilla port to the runway at Tenerife South Airport.
From there, the first flight carrying Spanish passengers departed for Madrid on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Netherlands is expected to send a ‘sweep flight’ on Monday afternoon for passengers who have not yet been repatriated, according to Spanish media.
On Saturday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reassured the residents of Tenerife that the arrival of the MV Hondius posed a low public health risk. He acknowledged local concerns in an open letter but emphasized that this situation is not akin to another COVID-19 outbreak. He stated that the current threat from the Hanta virus to public health is minimal, and WHO experts and medical supplies are already on board the ship.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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