The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) has sought to reassure residents of Tenerife that their risk of infection is low ahead of the arrival of a cruise ship on which an outbreak of hantavirus occurred.
Tedros Ghebreyesus stressed that "this is not another Covid" and that there were no symptomatic passengers currently aboard the MV Hondius, in a personal message to people on the Canary Island.
The MV Hondius is due to arrive in the port of Granadilla in the early hours of Sunday morning, sparking concern among locals.
Six cases have been confirmed among the ship's passengers, including in one of the three who died while the Dutch vessel was sailing from South America.
Spanish officials have sought to allay concerns about the ship's arrival, laying out in detail the containment precautions being taken.
