In a uncommon private message addressed to the island’s residents on Saturday, Dr Tedros confirmed he would journey to the Spanish territory to supervise the disembarkation of almost 150 passengers and crew, following a hantavirus outbreak on board that has claimed three lives.
“It isn’t widespread for me to put in writing on to the folks of a single group, however as we speak I really feel it’s not solely acceptable, it’s vital,” he mentioned.
COVID recollections recent
“I do know you might be apprehensive…The ache of 2020 remains to be actual, and I don’t dismiss it for a single second. However I would like you to listen to me clearly: this isn’t one other COVID.”
The vessel is carrying the Andes pressure of hantavirus, a critical respiratory sickness which is the one pressure the place human to human transmission has been recorded (checkout WHO’s hantavirus factsheet right here).
Based on the newest WHO scenario reportthere have been eight circumstances linked to the ship, six of that are laboratory-confirmed. Nonetheless, Tedros emphasised that the chance to most people stays “low”.
A ‘hall of security’
The Spanish authorities have established a rigorous protocol to make sure the virus doesn’t enter the area people. The ship will dock on the industrial port of Granadilla on Sunday, located away from residential areas.
Passengers will probably be transported in “sealed, guarded automobiles, by a very cordoned-off hall,” and repatriated on to their dwelling nations. “You’ll not encounter them. Your households is not going to encounter them,” the Director-Normal assured.
The WHO’s determination to request Spain’s help was made underneath the Worldwide Well being Rules, which mandate that the closest port with enough medical capability should present help throughout worldwide well being emergencies.
Worldwide solidarity
Tedros praised Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the folks of Tenerife for fulfilling what he described as a “ethical responsibility”. The passengers on board symbolize 23 completely different nations and have been at sea for a number of weeks.
“Tenerife has been chosen as a result of it has the medical capability, the infrastructure, and the humanity to assist them attain security,” Tedros mentioned.
“I intend to journey to Tenerife to…personally pay my respects to an island that has responded to a troublesome scenario with grace, solidarity, and compassion.”
The MV Hondius has been on the centre of a world tracing effort after the primary possible case – a male passenger who had travelled by South America – died on board in mid-April. Since then, circumstances have been hospitalised in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
At the moment, there aren’t any symptomatic passengers remaining on board the ship. A WHO knowledgeable is already on the vessel to observe the scenario because it reaches the Canary Islands on Sunday.
Concluding his message, Tedros known as for belief within the public well being preparations: “As I’ve mentioned many occasions: viruses don’t care about politics, and they don’t respect borders. The perfect immunity any of us has is solidarity.”
