2 Indians safe after Hantavirus scare on cruise ship near Spain | India News
Passengers from the Hantavirus-infected cruise ship MV Hondias after arriving at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
New Delhi: Two Indian crew members aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondias are healthy and asymptomatic, the Indian embassy in Madrid said on Sunday after the ship was anchored off Spain’s Canary Islands due to hantavirus fears.The ship, carrying about 150 people, arrived in Spain amid international health monitoring linked to a reported hantavirus outbreak. Passengers were allowed to disembark following protocols set by the World Health Organization and Spanish authorities.According to the embassy, the two Indians, who were working as crew members on the ship, have now been shifted to the Netherlands where they will undergo quarantine and health monitoring as per security protocols.“The two Indian nationals are healthy and asymptomatic,” the embassy said in a statement issued on May 10.The embassy added that Indian authorities are in close contact with Spanish officials and are regularly monitoring the situation to ensure the well-being and safety of Indian nationals.The development comes amid heightened global attention on hantavirus infections after reports linked to cruise ships triggered precautionary measures by European health agencies.Hantavirus is a rodent-borne viral disease that can cause severe respiratory illness in rare cases.Experts, however, say there are no immediate public health concerns for India at present.
