The WHO sets the hantavirus quarantine until June 21

The Director-General of the World Health Organization ( WHO ), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed on Tuesday that the quarantine period for confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus will be extended to 42 days, starting May 10. This places the end of the monitoring period on June 21.

Tedros appeared at the Moncloa Complex alongside Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to assess the situation following the outbreak of COVID-19 on the MV Hondius . There, he asserted that “this phase of the operation has been successful ,” although he admitted that “this is a serious situation that we have taken very seriously, even though the WHO’s assessment remains that the risk to global health is low.”

So far, “we have had 11 cases and three deaths. These cases occurred among passengers and crew members of the ship. Nine of these 11 have already tested positive for hantavirus, and the other two possibly will as well. These figures haven’t changed much since last week thanks to the efforts of many governments and partners.”

All suspected and confirmed cases were isolated and, as explained, “are being managed under strict medical supervision, thus minimizing the risk of any transmission. Right now, nothing points to a larger outbreak, but the situation could change, since we are dealing with a virus with a very long incubation period and, therefore, we could detect more cases in the coming weeks.”

QUARANTINE UNTIL JUNE 21

The WHO Director-General insisted that the quarantine must be maintained for 42 days “starting May 10, which would mean June 21.” He also reiterated that anyone showing symptoms “must be isolated and treated immediately.”

“ Our work is not finished and we will continue talking with experts in all affected countries,” Tedros said during his speech.

He also explained that “all passengers were able to disembark and leave Tenerife, while the MV Hondius is already on its way to the Netherlands. Nearly 150 people from 23 countries were on this ship for several weeks in a very frightening situation ; some even suffered from anxiety.”

In response to this situation, Dr. Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that “there were people in the world who asked that the passengers remain on the ship for the entire quarantine. That would have been inhumane and unnecessary , even cruel.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO THE GOVERNMENT

Tedros thanked the Prime Minister “not only for fulfilling Spain ’s legal obligations under international law but also for exercising his moral duty and showing solidarity with the ship’s passengers. Living in the current situation, the world needs this kind of kindness and compassion demonstrated by the Government.”