In total there have been 8 cases of the virus recorded from the ship, 3 of which have been lethal. The virus is normally spread by rodents. The Andes strain which has been identified on the ship is said to have a moderate risk to all onboard according to the WHO.
The ship, is due to arrive in Tenerife tomorrow but may face weather delays, must be evacuated as quickly as possible to prevent further spreading. Upon departing all passengers will be flown to their own home countries, where it has yet to be decided if they will quarantine at home or in a medical facility. The quarantine period is set to last for 45 days.
Professor Horgan has assured the public that the risk of human transmission is very low and that we will not see a repeat of the covid-19 pandemic. What you need to know about the virus is available here.
While speaking at the Irish Pharmacy Union's annual conference in Carlow, she further stated "What is also important is not only is the transmission low but we're putting protocols in place so that there is even further confinement and that's the purpose of quarantine, is to really contain that infection but monitor people during that time, that they've no symptoms, to make sure they're looked after both physically and mentally."
Ireland will continue to follow the advice set in place by the European Centre of Disease Control.
WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is set to travel to Tenerife to help coordinate the outbreak. He will first meet Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez before continuing to the Canary Islands, according to Spain’s Prime Minister’s office.
Once there, Dr Tedros will join Spain’s health and interior ministers at a command centre to oversee coordination efforts, including health monitoring and the implementation of surveillance and response protocols, according to government service.
