World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the risk to Tenerife residents from a hantavirus-hit cruise ship is low.
The statement aims to prevent public panic in Spain as the vessel arrived at the Port of Granadilla de Abona early Sunday. Because hantaviruses can cause severe respiratory distress, the arrival of an infected ship creates significant anxiety for local populations.
During a press conference on Saturday, May 9, 2026, Tedros addressed the concerns of the island's residents. He said that the current situation is not a global health emergency similar to previous outbreaks. "This is not another Covid," Tedros said [1].
The ship carried a small number of infected individuals. Reports indicate that eight people on board fell ill [2], and three of those passengers died [2]. Despite these fatalities, the WHO maintains that the disease does not pose a widespread threat to the general public in Tenerife.
Tedros urged the community to rely on official health guidance to avoid the spread of misinformation. "The risk to residents is low," Tedros said [3]. He said the importance of international cooperation and scientific oversight during the docking process is key.
Local authorities in Tenerife have coordinated with health officials to manage the ship's arrival. "We ask residents to trust the World Health Organization," Tedros said [4]. The WHO continues to monitor the situation to ensure that all medical protocols are followed as passengers disembark.
“"This is not another Covid."”
The WHO's rapid intervention is designed to decouple the fear of hantavirus from the collective trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic. By emphasizing that the virus does not behave like a highly contagious respiratory pandemic, health officials are attempting to manage public perception and prevent economic disruption to Tenerife's tourism-dependent economy.
