Ruptly
"Tenerife residents voiced concern on Thursday over the arrival of the MV Hondius, a cruise ship hit by an outbreak of hantavirus, to the Canary Islands, after Spain agreed to requests from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to receive it. "The issue is why the Canary Islands? Possibly because it's the closest point to the mainland, but with the proper protocols, they could just as easily have gone to another country," said Roberto, a local. He explained that many islanders remained uneasy about how authorities would manage transfers and health controls if infected passengers were brought ashore. "We want to know how this is going to be handled," Roberto stressed. Residents repeatedly drew comparisons with the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, when uncertainty over transmission and government responses led to nationwide lockdowns in Spain. "Nobody would want another global pandemic after everything we went through with COVID, or another lockdown, especially knowing that this virus is supposedly more deadly," said Laura, another resident. Local Maria initially opposed allowing the ship to dock, but reconsidered. "I think they probably should allow it, because the passengers aren't going to leave the ship anyway. They'll just be monitored by doctors who go on board, and if there's a serious case, they'll probably transfer that person to Hospital La Candelaria," she explained. Other residents were more sceptical about the authorities' preparedness. "I don't trust the authorities very much [...] If they don't know how to act now, how are they going to know what to do once the ship arrives?" asked Yasmine. She warned that residents fear the broader consequences if the virus were to spread locally. "I'm not saying 'burn the ship', but they need to be very careful about what they do." The MV Hondius, carrying 150 people, is expected to reach Tenerife on Saturday. Three people have died, including a Dutch couple and a German national. The WHO confirmed three cases and flagged five suspected ones. The vessel had been held off Cape Verde after authorities refused to allow passengers to disembark. Spain granted permission for the ship to dock in the Canary Islands for quarantine and further checks, despite a row with the local government. Hantavirus is typically linked to contact with infected rodent droppings. The Andes strain is one of the few known forms that allow rare human-to-human transmission, though health officials say the wider public risk remains low. Severe cases can cause respiratory failure or haemorrhagic fever."
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