MADRID – The top official of Spain’s Canary Islands announced Wednesday his opposition to permitting a luxury cruise vessel experiencing a fatal hantavirus outbreak from arriving at the popular Atlantic archipelago.
Fernando Clavijo, the regional leader, explained his stance during an interview with radio station COPE, stating: “This decision is not based on any technical criteria, nor is there sufficient information to reassure the public or guarantee their safety.”
The Canary Islands chief has called for an immediate conference with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez regarding the matter. Clavijo represents the conservative People’s Party, which serves as the primary political opposition to Sanchez’s Socialist government.
Spanish national television network TVE had reported earlier Wednesday that the affected cruise liner was scheduled to arrive at Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, according to health ministry sources. Officials from the ministry have not yet responded to media inquiries seeking additional details about the situation.
