SPANISH passengers rescued from the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius cruise will face up to six weeks in quarantine as authorities scramble to contain the outbreak.
The health ministry confirmed that the official quarantine period began on May 6 and could last 42 days, following warnings from international health experts.
Health minister Javier Padilla said he took the decision after consultations with the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and Spain’s own health alert teams.
Padilla said officials carried out a ‘detailed analysis’ of interactions aboard the expedition cruise ship before setting May 6 as the final possible day of exposure.
In total, there were 14 Spanish nationals on the ship.
Padilla said all 14 are doing well, apart from concerns over their luggage, which have been taken away for disinfection.
What will happen to these 14 passengers?
Authorities evacuated the passengers from the ship and transferred them to Madrid’s Gomez Ulla military hospital by plane, where they remain under strict isolation.
Padilla said passengers have already undergone PCR testing and will face a second round of tests within a week.
Results of the first PCR test will be known on Monday afternoon.Â
The passengers spent a peaceful first night in isolation, where they have been confined to individual rooms.
Medical staff will check their temperatures twice a day.
No visitors are allowed during the initial quarantine phase.Â
Initially, they will remain under hospital quarantine for seven days before doctors reassess each case individually.
Officials have said they could relax isolation conditions if patients remain symptom-free during the lengthy quarantine.
The potential six-week isolation reflects fears over hantavirus’ incubation period.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially deadly disease causing fever, muscle pain and severe respiratory complications.
Health authorities have tightened measures after two passengers tested positive following evacuation efforts.
French health minister Stephanie Rist confirmed that one French passenger developed a fever during a repatriation flight home before testing positive.
Officials also confirmed that an American passenger contracted the virus, although symptoms remained mild.
A huge international operation has been underway in Tenerife to remove passengers from the vessel.
“Authorities already evacuated 94 passengers from 19 nationalities on eight separate flights”, Padilla confirmed.
More than 400 public workers have reportedly been involved in the operation.
Authorities hope to finish the evacuation process by the end of Monday.
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