World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has issued a direct message to the people of Tenerife, where the cruise ship MV Hondius, affected by a hantavirus outbreak, is expected to dock early Sunday. In an unusual personal appeal, he sought to reassure residents that the risk to the public remains low.
Direct Communication from WHO Chief
Tedros wrote directly to Tenerife's community, acknowledging their concerns and memories of the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized that this situation is not comparable to COVID-19 and that the current public health risk from hantavirus is low. The Andes strain of hantavirus aboard the ship is serious, with three fatalities reported, but he stressed that the risk to residents going about their daily lives is minimal.
Precautionary Measures in Place
The WHO chief detailed the rigorous precautions being implemented. No symptomatic passengers remain on board. A WHO expert is present on the ship, and medical supplies are available. Spanish authorities have devised a careful plan: passengers will be transported from the industrial port of Granadilla, far from residential zones, in sealed and guarded vehicles through a cordoned-off corridor, then repatriated directly to their home countries. Tedros assured residents they would not encounter the passengers.
Solidarity and International Regulations
Tedros thanked Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for accepting the ship, calling it an act of solidarity and moral duty. He clarified that the request was made under the International Health Regulations, which mandate identifying the nearest port with sufficient medical capacity. Tenerife met this standard, and Spain honoured its obligations. Nearly 150 people from 23 countries have been at sea for weeks, grieving and frightened, longing for home.
The WHO director-general announced his intention to travel to Tenerife to observe the operation firsthand, standing with health workers, port staff, and officials. He praised the ship's captain, Jan Dobrogowski, and the crew for their exemplary collaboration. Tedros concluded by urging residents to trust in the preparations and to know that the WHO stands with them and every person on the ship.
