Port staff in the Canary Islands remain on high alert regarding the possible docking of a cruise ship that has reported a hantavirus outbreak. The vessel is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, awaiting the evacuation of suspected cases.
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the evacuation of affected individuals to the Netherlands and Germany, and the Ministry of Health stated there is no clinical reason for a stopover in the Canary Islands, the company Oceanwide, responsible for the cruise ship, has indicated its intention to head to the islands, either Gran Canaria or Tenerife, a three-day journey.
“"We are very worried. Everyone is asking questions, and we don't know the magnitude of the situation."
The workforces of the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas have expressed their unease. A union spokesperson noted that while there isn't extreme nervousness currently, the situation could change if the ship begins its journey towards the islands. Meanwhile, sources from the Port Authority of Las Palmas have, for now, ruled out the cruise ship's arrival following the latest communications with Capitanía Marítima, though they acknowledge that specific protocols would be activated if it were confirmed.
A union has submitted a formal request to the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, demanding greater transparency and detailed information. They have called for “immediate guarantees” for the protection of port and health workers on the islands, as well as the preparation of adequate isolation and physical protection measures.
“"Port workers cannot be the shield of an international health crisis without adequate PPE and clear action protocols for the docking of a vessel carrying a lethal pathogenic agent."
The same union organization has voiced concerns about the shortage of tugboats in the port of Tenerife's capital, stating they only have three units and questioning the response capability in an emergency maneuver. They have warned of potential legal actions or preventive strikes if workers' health rights are violated for the sake of the port's commercial operations.
Oceanwide has confirmed that the medical evacuation of two individuals requiring urgent attention, along with a companion, will be carried out by two specialized aircraft en route to Cape Verde. From there, the patients will be medically transported to the Netherlands. Once this evacuation is completed, the vessel will begin its repositioning.
