Spain says no decision taken on hantavirus cruise ship

Spain said Tuesday it will not decide where to let a cruise ship with hantavirus cases dock until epidemiological data had been analysed.

The health ministry statement in a social media post came shortly after World Health Organization epidemic and pandemic preparedness director Maria Van Kerkhove said in Geneva that the ship would head for the Canary Islands.

“Based on the epidemiological data collected from the ship during its stopover in Cape Verde, it will be decided which port of call is most appropriate. Until then, the Ministry of Health will not take any decision, as we have informed the World Health Organization,” the ministry said.

Earlier, the vice president of the islands’ regional government, Manuel Dominguez, said he preferred that the ship go straight to mainland Spain because it had greater resources to handle the stricken vessel.

“If it does not have to be in the Canary Islands, then that would be better, because there may be other resources on the mainland,” he said in a radio interview, adding that any decision should be taken “with all possible guarantees”.