Hantavirus Flight Stranded in Canary Islands After Failure
A medical evacuation flight carrying patients infected with the rare Andean strain of hantavirus was forced into an emergency stopover in the Canary Islands on Monday following a series of technical and diplomatic hurdles. The aircraft, which originated in Cape Verde and was destined for the Netherlands, landed at Gran Canaria airport to refuel after Morocco reportedly denied the plane entry into its airspace.
Upon landing, the situation grew more complex when the onboard physician reported a failure in the electrical support system for one of the patients. Spain’s Ministry of Health confirmed that the patient is currently being sustained by the airport’s external electrical grid while grounded on the tarmac. Health officials emphasized that the patient remains confined to the aircraft and poses “no risk to public health” for the local population.
Outbreak on the “MV Hondius”
The two patients on the plane are among several people infected during an outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. The vessel, which departed from Argentina in April with 147 people on board, was recently quarantined in Cape Verde after a string of respiratory illnesses and three deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health officials have identified five suspected cases and two laboratory-confirmed cases on the ship so far.
The situation is being treated with extreme caution because the South African Health Minister confirmed the virus involved is the Andean strain. Unlike other forms of hantavirus, the Andean strain is the only variant known to be transmissible between humans.
A Massive Repatriation Effort
While the air ambulances remain on the tarmac in Gran Canaria, the MV Hondius itself has departed Cape Verde and is expected to dock in Tenerife this Saturday. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that the Canary Islands represent the nearest port equipped with the necessary “technical and public health security capabilities” to handle the crisis.
Once the ship docks, a massive operation under the European Civil Protection Mechanism will begin:
- International Passengers: All occupants will be evacuated and repatriated to their home countries under the coordination of the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
- Spanish Citizens: The 14 Spanish nationals on board will be transported via military aircraft to a hospital in Madrid. They face a mandatory quarantine of up to 45 days, matching the virus’s maximum incubation period.
Spanish Health Minister Monica García assured the public that all protocols are being strictly followed to ensure “all necessary security guarantees,” promising that neither the transfer of passengers nor the grounded medical flight will involve any contact with the local population.
Image: Pexels – Dan Wright
