Madrid, May 8 (IANS). Spain’s Health Secretary Javier Padilla said on Friday that health authorities had taken necessary measures after a suspected case of hantavirus was detected in the eastern city of Alicante.
According to Padilla, this person had traveled on the same flight a few weeks ago as an infected person.
According to Xinhua News Agency, he said that symptoms like Hantavirus infection have been found in this person, but officials are still investigating whether this is a confirmed case or not.
Additionally, Padilla confirmed that all 14 Spanish passengers on board the ‘MV Hondius’ have voluntarily agreed to remain in quarantine to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
This Dutch operated cruise ship is currently headed towards Spain’s Canary Islands and so far three deaths have been linked to it.
Padilla said a team from Spain’s health ministry would leave for Tenerife on Saturday, and the ship was expected to arrive there on Sunday.
The passengers will be disembarked from the ship with the help of small boats and then taken further under strict isolation process. The Spanish citizens present on the ship will be taken to Madrid and kept in quarantine.
Britain’s Health Protection Agency said on Friday that Hantavirus has been confirmed in two British citizens on the Tristan da Cunha island in the South Atlantic and another person is suspected of having the infection.
The agency said that none of the British citizens on board the ship ‘MV Hondius’ are currently showing any symptoms, but everyone is being constantly monitored. After returning to Britain, all British passengers and crew will have to remain in isolation for 45 days.
British government staff will also be in Tenerife on Sunday to assist British nationals disembarking from the ship.
According to the agency, on April 24, seven British citizens landed on the island of St. Helena from the ship. Two of these people have returned to Britain and are in isolation at home, and have not been found to have any symptoms. Four people are still in St Helena, while a seventh person has been traced outside the UK.
–IANS
AY/ABM