It’s actually the most logical decision.

Everything related to hantavirus and the MV Hondius cruise ship is causing great fear among the population. A virus that comes from another country and that has already left several deaths, quarantines, security protocols… It is impossible not to think about the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is possibly the reason why the Government of the Canary Islands has shown its disagreement with the decision of the WHO and the Central Government of Spain to take the ship to the Port of Granadilla de Abona, in Tenerife, to evacuate the sick.

The truth is that Fear is a totally logical reaction. However, there are many experts who have made a call for calmremembering that the pandemic potential of the hantavirus is very low and that, furthermore, Spanish Health has the capacity to treat this crisis in a safe way for the population. On the other hand, they add what both the president of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and the president of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, have already been saying. “Solidarity is very important in cases like this.”

What do we know so far about this virus?

The hantavirus It is not a new virus. That is the first factor that differentiates it from SARS-CoV 2, which causes COVID-19. The disease that causes has been known since the 1950swhen the first cases were detected in South Korea. However, the virus was not isolated until 1976. The cells from which it was extracted came from mice living near the Hantan River, also in this Asian country. That’s precisely where its name comes from.

This first virus caused kidney disease when infected in humans. Today it is the only hantavirus that can be found naturally in Europe. But what caused the outbreak on the cruise ship is not this hantavirus, but another one, which was discovered on the American continent in the 1990s. Instead of a kidney disease, causes a respiratory disease and is much more deadly. Both are usually transmitted mainly by rodents, such as rats and mice. However, it has been known for years a variant of the American hantavirus called Andesthat Yes, it can be spread between humans due to very close contact. That’s the one on the cruise.

The contact must be very close for said contagion to occur. It is normally found in the saliva and respiratory secretions of patients in the acute phase of the disease. It is not in aerosols, like SARS-CoV 2, so it is not common to be infected simply by being in the same room as an infected person. It also does not last long on surfaces. That’s why it’s much less contagious. In fact, Tertiary infections are quite rare. That is, a first person can infect a second, but there rarely is a third and a fourth would be extremely unusual.

It is not known if the infections have all occurred on the ship or on an excursion

That said, it is not known if the sick people on the cruise contracted the disease through contact with rodents during any of the excursions to the American islands or if they directly infected each other. It is something that should be investigated. That said, with all this data, it seems that all the institutions consulted, with the exception of the Government of the Canary Islands, agree that Spain cannot look elsewhere.

What do the experts say?

It should be noted that the cruise ship initially moved to Cape Verde. The Government of said country rejected help to the passengers, ensuring that they did not have the necessary means. For this reason, the WHO requested help from Spain. An aid that the Central Government has accepted, recognizing that We are the closest country with the means to take charge.

In fact, according to statements to Science Media Center (SMC) of Maria João Forjazpresident of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology, in Spain “Periodic drills on health emergencies are held in designated portsthe last one, a few weeks ago in the port of Palma.” In addition, “we have a network of hospitals with High Level Isolation and Treatment Units in case it is necessary to attend to the cases.”

For this same reason, Pedro Ignacio Arcos Gonzálezdirector of the Emergency and Disaster Research Unit of the University of Oviedo, believes that “The Ministry’s decision is consistent with the reduced degree of risk posed by the hantavirus ship threat. and is in accordance with what is established in the WHO International Health Regulations and with the duty of international cooperation in matters of public health.”

Think something similar Mar Faracohead of the Foreign Health Service in Huelva. Furthermore, it points out that “it is reasonable and fair to assume control of the outbreak and assist the affected ship and the people on board, guaranteeing the protection of public health with a procedure of action, which, although complex, is possible and necessary”.

And now what?

The cruise is already on its way to Tenerife, but will not dock directly in the port. It is planned to anchor in the vicinity of the same. There, passengers will board small boats, which will take them to a bus, with which they will travel to the airport.

Afterwards, each person will be repatriated to their country, with the security measures indicated in each case. The Spanish Government has already made it known that Spanish passengers, with or without symptoms, They must undergo a quarantine period. Let us remember that this virus can take up to 45 days to incubate. Therefore, it is best to take extreme precautions before these people can return to their routine. This quarantine will take place at the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid.

Regarding the sick, Adrian Hugo Aginagaldespokesperson for the Spanish Society of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Health Management, has also pointed out SMC that the first step is to evacuate them. Afterwards, it will be necessary to “evaluate, monitor, transfer and maintain the quarantine of their close contacts.” In principle, the sick will also be repatriated to be treated in their countries. In fact, one of these transfers has already been made on a medical plane heading to the Netherlands.

In short, it is logical that this situation is somewhat scary. It is a disease with high mortality and we are worried about what may happen. However, as all experts insist, Spain has the duty to face the emergency. And if it has that duty it is precisely because we have the means to face it. For this reason and because of the low pandemic potential of this virus, it is important that we all remain calm.

Image | Magnificent

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