Tenerife reacts with anger and resignation as hantavirus ship nears port
Tenerife reacts: The Spanish island of Tenerife is responding with a mix of anger and resignation as the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has experienced an outbreak of hantavirus, approaches its shores. The arrival of the vessel has raised health concerns among local residents and workers, despite assurances from the Spanish government and the World Health Organization (WHO) that safety measures are in place.
Local concerns and protests over health risks
The MV Hondius is set to arrive in Tenerife after traveling from Cape Verde, where three passengers were evacuated due to illness. The Spanish government, in agreement with the WHO, has authorized the ship’s passengers to disembark on the island this weekend. However, this decision has sparked unease among some Tenerife residents and port workers.
On Friday, dock workers gathered outside the Canary Islands’ parliament building in Santa Cruz to express their worries. They used whistles, vuvuzelas, and banners to protest, demanding special safety measures and clear information about the risks involved. Joana Batista, a member of a local port workers’ union, emphasized the need for protective protocols and transparency. Some workers have even threatened to block the ship’s arrival if their demands are not met.
Batista stated, “If the boat is going to stop here, then it can do so, but with the necessary measures in place. Local people need to be told how this will affect them, how the passengers will be transported. We need reassurance above all.”
Nearby, nutritionist María de la Luz Sedeño expressed strong frustration, linking the situation to broader challenges faced by the Canary Islands, including the ongoing arrival of thousands of undocumented migrants from North and West Africa. While some islanders take pride in hosting migrants, others view it as a source of strain. Sedeño criticized the central government for ignoring opposition voiced by the president of the Canary Islands region, Fernando Clavijo, saying, “The people here are not being listened to.”
Government response and safety measures
The Spanish Socialist-led central government has responded to the criticism by providing detailed information about the ship’s arrival and the precautions being taken. The MV Hondius will not dock directly in Tenerife but will anchor offshore. Passengers will be transported by ferry to the industrial port of Granadilla, located in the south-east of the island, away from residential areas.
Upon arrival, passengers will either be repatriated or, in the case of the 14 Spanish nationals aboard, taken to Madrid for quarantine. Authorities have emphasized that there will be no contact between passengers and local residents. Virginia Barcones, head of Spain’s civil protection agency, assured that locals “will be absolutely and completely protected.”
Some islanders have found reassurance in the government’s transparency. Marialaina Retina Fernández, a pensioner, expressed cautious acceptance of the situation. She described local healthcare facilities as “the best there is” and said, “It’s not ideal that they all end up coming here, but if [the authorities] say they’ll do everything possible to make sure nobody gets infected, let’s hope that’s how it is.”
Broader context and political reactions
The arrival of the MV Hondius has also become a political issue. The far-right Vox party has attempted to link the ship’s arrival to the ongoing migration challenges faced by the Canary Islands, drawing comparisons with the arrival of undocumented migrants. However, both the WHO and the Spanish government have sought to downplay any epidemiological parallels between the hantavirus situation and the Covid-19 pandemic.
For many residents, the cruise ship’s arrival is a reminder of the early days of Covid-19 in the Canary Islands. The first identified Covid case in Spain was a German tourist on the nearby island of La Gomera, which led to the confinement of about 1,000 guests and staff in a Tenerife hotel.
Despite the challenges, some locals remain confident in the island’s ability to manage crises. Retina Fernández reflected, “We’re used to all sorts of problems arriving here. You can see that we’re good at managing these situations.”