Emergency Landing of Hantavirus Patients in Gran Canaria
A Turkish air ambulance, operating under the registration TC-RSD and belonging to Redstar Aviation, made an unanticipated landing at Gran Canaria Airport on Wednesday. This aircraft was tasked with evacuating two patients infected with hantavirus from the MV Hondius cruise ship to the Netherlands. According to officials from both the Government Delegation and the Canarian Health Department, the airplane landed around 4:00 PM after deviating from its original flight plan.
Initially, it was reported that the stop was solely for technical reasons, primarily for refueling. However, authorities later clarified that a breach in the isolation bubble of one of the patients necessitated repairs on the ground before the aircraft could continue its journey to Amsterdam. The flight had taken off from Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, at 11:00 AM, with a scheduled stop in Marrakech at 1:00 PM before heading to the Netherlands. Unfortunately, Moroccan authorities denied the aircraft entry into their airspace, prompting the activation of an alternative plan that redirected it to Gran Canaria.
Health Protocols in Place Amid Hantavirus Crisis
In light of the severe hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, which is operated by Oceanwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a total of eight cases as of May 6, including three laboratory-validated instances and three associated fatalities. The strain identified is the Andes variant, prevalent in the southern cone of South America and noted for its documented ability to transmit between humans. Without timely treatment, the pulmonary syndrome related to this virus can lead to mortality rates as high as 40%.
In response to the WHO's requests, the Spanish government has permitted the MV Hondius to dock at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife within the next three days. Health Minister Mónica García has assured that all individuals onboard are currently asymptomatic, and this decision follows the guidelines provided by the international health body. However, the regional president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has publicly opposed this decision and has called for an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to discuss the operational management of the situation. This institutional friction is compounded by concerns raised by unions such as CSIF, which are demanding comprehensive protection guarantees for health workers, security forces, and port personnel.
Among the 147 people onboard the cruise ship, there are 14 Spanish nationals—13 passengers and one crew member. Once disembarked in Tenerife, they will be evacuated by military aircraft from the Torrejón de Ardoz base to the Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital in Madrid, where they will stay in a High-Level Isolation and Treatment Unit for a monitoring period that may last up to 45 days.
As reported by diariodeavisos.elespanol.com.
