Authorities say dozens of passengers have now left the cruise ship linked to the recent hantavirus cases, while the remaining travelers are expected to disembark by Monday through a coordinated international operation.
After the vessel arrived in Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday, health officials screened passengers and reported that no one showed symptoms of the virus.
The cruise ship has been under close attention since departing Argentina last month, after three deaths were connected to hantavirus — a rare infection usually spread through contact with rodent waste. The World Health Organization has described the overall risk to the public as low, with experts stressing that hantavirus is very different from Covid-19 in the way it spreads.
Even with repeated assurances from health authorities, the ship’s arrival has sparked concern among some residents in the Canary Islands. Local political leaders had previously voiced opposition to allowing the vessel to dock in the region.