The head of the World Health Organisation sought Saturday to reassure worried residents of the Spanish island of Tenerife that they are not in danger from the anticipated arrival there of a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship, issuing a direct message to them. The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, with more than 140 passengers and crew on board, is headed to Spain's Canary Islands, off the coast of West Africa, and is expected to arrive at the island of Tenerife in the early hours of Sunday. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with Spain's Health Minister Monica Garcia and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, are to head to the island Saturday to coordinate the disembarkation.

Spanish health minister Monica Garcia says all those onboard a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship were 'asymptomatic' after it arrived in Tenerife in the Canary Islands on Sunday. Everyone disembarking will be checked for symptoms, authorities say, and be taken off the ship only once evacuation flights are ready to fly them to their destinations Argentina in spotlight over hantavirus as authorities retrace footsteps of ship’s passengers Dozens of people from cruise ship struck by hantavirus leave Tenerife Continue reading...