WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has addressed the people of Tenerife directly ahead of a cruise ship carrying nearly 150 people affected by a hantavirus outbreak, telling residents "this is not another COVID".
Outbreak involves Andes strain
The MV Hondius is carrying passengers and crew exposed to the Andes strain of hantavirus, which has caused three deaths aboard the vessel. The WHO assesses the current public health risk to Tenerife residents as low.
No passengers currently showing symptoms remain aboard the ship, and a WHO expert is stationed on the vessel with medical supplies in place.
The nearly 150 people aboard represent 23 different countries.
Cordoned disembarkation planned
Passengers will disembark at the industrial port of Granadilla and be transported in sealed vehicles through a cordoned-off corridor for direct repatriation to their home countries.
Tedros personally thanked Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez for Spain's decision to receive the ship, calling it "an act of solidarity and moral duty".
The WHO's request to Spain was made under the International Health Regulations, which require the nearest port with medical capacity to be identified for public health events.
WHO chief to visit island
Tedros plans to travel to Tenerife to observe the disembarkation operation firsthand and meet with health workers and officials.
In his message, Tedros emphasised that "viruses do not care about politics, and they do not respect borders", adding that "the best immunity any of us has is solidarity".
The WHO chief acknowledged the ship's captain Jan Dobrogowski, crew, and operating company for what he described as exemplary collaboration during the crisis.