Cape Verde prepares to help virus-hit cruise ship, Canary Islands oppose docking

Cape Verde is preparing to help the cruise ship MV Hondius after a hantavirus cluster aboard the vessel left three people dead, while authorities in Spain’s Canary Islands are opposing plans for the ship to dock there.

The World Health Organization said seven cases had been identified as of May 4, including three deaths, and described the public-health risk as low. WHO said the vessel, which had 147 passengers and crew, was moored off the coast of Cabo Verde.

Cape Verde authorities have prepared an isolation area and a multidisciplinary medical team in case patients need assistance. Spain’s health ministry said WHO asked Spain to receive the ship in the Canary Islands and that remaining passengers would travel there in about three to four days.

But the Canary Islands regional leader, Fernando Clavijo, said he opposes allowing the ship to dock and asked for an urgent meeting with Spain’s prime minister. Spain’s health ministry said several Spanish citizens are among those on board.

The result is a cross-border public-health dispute over how to move a vessel affected by a rare virus outbreak. For now, the immediate priorities are medical screening, safe transfer of passengers and agreement on where the ship can land.