Anchoring off Tenerife, smallboat transfers and talks with 22 countries: The difficult return home for the hantavirus cruise passengers

"No one will leave [the ship] unless they are going directly to the airport for their country of origin, said Virginia Barcones, Director General of Civil Protection and Emergencies, on Thursday. She indicated that the Netherlands will be ultimately responsible if no agreement is reached. It is also unclear exactly how or by whom the ship will be disinfected. Spain's Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Transport, the Interior, and Health, in coordination with the World Health Organization and European authorities, are finalizing every step from the moment the cruise ship reaches the Canary Islands, which is expected on Sunday at midday."

"It is clear that the 14 Spaniards will be transferred by military plane to Madrid to quarantine at the Gomez-Ulla Hospital, but it is unclear how long this quarantine will last, or what will happen if any of them refuse to self-isolate. For the other 133 passengers, of 22 different nationalities, their repatriation will depend on negotiations with their governments. European countries, the United States, and the United Kingdom are already reaching agreements with Spain, but much remains uncertain about what will happen to citizens of third countries."

"The first step will be a medical check-up to ensure that all crew members have no symptoms of the hantavirus, which has so far caused eight infections and three deaths on the cruise ship. Transfer of a patient at Amsterdam airport.Associated Press/LaPresse (APN) One of the demands made by the Canary Islands' premier, Fernando Clavijo, is that there be no contact with the local population. To minimise it, he reached an agreement with the central government for the ship not to dock at the port of Granadilla de Abona."

Fourteen Spanish passengers will be transferred by military plane to Madrid for quarantine at Gomez-Ulla Hospital, but quarantine duration and consequences for refusing self-isolation remain unclear. Repatriation for 133 passengers from 22 nationalities depends on negotiations with their governments, with agreements already reached by several European countries, the United States, and the United Kingdom. No one will leave the ship unless going directly to the airport for their country of origin. If no agreement is reached, the Netherlands will be ultimately responsible. Disinfection procedures and responsibility are still unclear. Spain’s ministries, coordinated with the World Health Organization and European authorities, are finalizing steps after the ship’s expected arrival in the Canary Islands, including medical checks for hantavirus symptoms. The Canary Islands’ premier requested no contact with the local population, leading to an agreement to avoid docking at Granadilla de Abona’s port and instead bring passengers ashore in small boats.

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