The images, widely circulated on social media, capture the moment a health professional, part of the psychological support team from the Ministry of Health, disembarks from a UME bus in the airport area. In the sequence, the individual is seen walking without a mask and holding the special protective suit in hand.
This incident has raised concerns about the proper management of protective material used during the transfer of passengers, especially considering that the MV Hondius had reported a hantavirus outbreak. Psychological assistance to travelers had been announced as an integral part of the health operation.
Biosafety protocols establish that the removal and disposal of protective material must be carried out in a controlled manner, in designated areas, and with appropriate hygiene measures when used in a potentially exposed environment.
The situation casts doubt on whether the personal protective equipment in question was part of the health circuit activated for individuals under surveillance or preventive quarantine, highlighting the importance of strict adherence to biosafety guidelines to prevent any risk of contagion.
