WHO chief heads to Canaries for hantavirus evacuation

The World Health Organization's director-general is traveling to Spain's Canary Islands on Saturday to help coordinate the evacuation of passengers affected by hantavirus, according to Spanish ministry sources.

The outbreak has been identified aboard a vessel in Tenerife, prompting urgent health intervention. Hantavirus is a potentially severe rodent-borne pathogen that can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in humans. The WHO's involvement signals the scale of the public health concern.

Spanish authorities have not yet disclosed the number of confirmed cases or passengers aboard the ship. The disease typically spreads through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, making containment and passenger screening critical priorities.

The evacuation represents an escalation in response efforts, with international health coordination now deployed. Spain is activating cross-border health protocols for the affected passengers.