Post by : Badri Ariffin

The European Commission is taking charge of coordinating responses from national authorities following the alarming Hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship.

The Commission has reported that the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) concluded the risk to the public in Europe remains “very low.” Proper measures for infection control are being implemented, as hantaviruses are not easily transmissible between individuals.

Emergency measures were initiated when Spain activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on May 6. The EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre has been at the forefront of ensuring the safe evacuation of passengers from the MV Hondius, which is stationed near Tenerife Island.

On May 10, five repatriation flights organized by France, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, and Ireland were confirmed by the Commission. The Netherlands is currently managing a sixth, final flight.

To enhance its response efforts, the EU has drawn from its strategic reserves, including deploying a medical evacuation aircraft from Norway's EU fleet. Additional logistics support and protective gear are also on standby.

A liaison officer from the EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre is present in Tenerife to aid local authorities in managing on-the-ground coordination. Additionally, two experts from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control have been dispatched to the cruise ship to address medical concerns prior to passenger disembarkation.

The EU continues to work closely with Spain, its member states, nations involved in the Civil Protection Mechanism, the World Health Organization (WHO), and G7 associates to execute a cohesive health response.

The Health Security Committee, led by the European Commission, is actively collaborating with national health bodies to streamline the processes of passenger disembarkation, repatriation, and necessary medical follow-up.

Daily meetings among officials via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the Health Security Committee are ongoing to assess the situation, share developments, track potential cases, and modify operational strategies as circumstances evolve.

The European Commission emphasizes that its top priority remains the safeguarding of citizens, the support of affected passengers, and ensuring a swift and effective response from member states based on the most current medical insights.

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