The repatriation effort, coordinated by Spanish authorities with support from the WHO, the European Union, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and several governments, marked the end of an emergency operation that has grabbed global health attention for weeks after an outbreak of Andean hantavirus aboard the vessel.
As of Monday, the WHO said there had been nine cases linked to the ship, including seven laboratory-confirmed infections and three deaths. An additional case remained under investigation after an inconclusive test result.
Click here for the WHO fact sheet on hantavirus
Operation carried out ‘as planned’
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was in Tenerife leading an emergency response team, praised Spain’s handling of the operation. He said the landing had been carried out “in style and as planned”.
“This is the triumph of solidarity,” he said, thanking the Spanish government, European partners, the Tenerife authorities and the ship’s crew for their coordination and cooperation throughout the crisis.
The last groups of passengers left the Canary Islands aboard specially arranged flights on Monday, while more than 30 crew members and two health workers remained on board as the vessel continued on to its home port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
No commercial flights
WHO officials stressed that none of the passengers were traveling on commercial flights and called on countries receiving returning citizens to implement strict surveillance measures.
The agency is calling for 42 days of quarantine or isolation starting May 10, either at home or in dedicated facilities, reflecting the virus’s long incubation period and the possibility of delayed symptoms.
“I believe that countries will do everything to protect their citizens,” Tedros said. “The guidelines are clear. It’s 42 days of isolation.”
Health experts explained that the extended surveillance period is intended to prevent further spread of the virus, which can become contagious at the onset of symptoms.
The next phase
Tedros said the operation has now entered a longer monitoring phase, with the WHO requesting the countries involved to provide weekly updates through the International Health Regulations (IHR) platform on the health and well-being of passengers and crew.
“Continued international coordination is essential to protect everyone’s health,” he said.
A limited outbreak
Olivier Le Polain, the WHO’s head of epidemiology and analysis, said the outbreak remained “well contained for now” but warned that additional cases could still emerge in the coming days or weeks.
“We know that the incubation period for hantavirus and Andes virus is very long,” he said during a WHO media briefing. “People can still develop symptoms much later.”
WHO officials also noted the strain on passengers and crew for weeks at sea, saying repatriation was intended to both reduce the risk of infection and ensure people received appropriate care and support.
“This is not another COVID,” Tedros said, urging countries to “Continue to show your compassion and solidarity with your citizens.”
