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Hantavirus Cruise: Passengers Fear Landfall Stigma More
9 May
Summary
- Passengers fear social stigma more than hantavirus infection.
- WHO stresses hantavirus risk is low and distinct from COVID-19.
- Some Spanish groups and politicians expressed fear and demanded restrictions.
Passengers aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius are experiencing significant anxiety not from a hantavirus outbreak, but from the prospect of social stigma upon their return to land. Sensationalized media reports and online memes have created a fearful atmosphere, leading passengers to worry about being ostracized as disease vectors. This fear is amplified by echoes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The World Health Organization has been actively dispelling comparisons, emphasizing that hantavirus is a different virus with a very low risk to the general public and is not easily spread between people. However, some anti-establishment groups in Spain have called for the ship to be barred from Spanish shores, citing a need to avoid past 'mistakes.'
Regional politicians have also expressed unease, with some stating they would not be at ease until the ship departs and passengers are quarantined. Port workers in Tenerife have protested due to a lack of information regarding safety measures. Passengers describe their daily routines as tranquil, with masks and social distancing observed in common areas, and specialists have provided reassurance about the low risk of human-to-human transmission.
