Canary Islands Cruise Hantavirus Scandal Sparks Political Backlash
Analysis of the MV Hondius arrival in Tenerife amid hantavirus fears: real crisis or political theater? Data, images, and doubts about the operation.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The MV Hondius: Health Crisis or Political Stunt in the Canary Islands?
When a ship carrying a highly lethal bicho appears off the coast, the official response should be unanimous. But the case of the MV Hondius, anchored in Tenerife with 153 people on board and at least two suspected bicho cases, has raised more questions than answers. While the President of the Canary Islands denied docking permission, the central government authorized it, and images of health technicians without protective gear cast doubt on the true risk.
The Bicho and the Ship: Data That Doesn't Add Up
Andean bicho has a mortality rate close to 50%, according to the WHO, but its transmission is very specific: it requires direct contact with wild rodents from the Andes, not common rats. Of the cruise's 153 passengers, only 14 were Spanish. The rest came from the Netherlands, France, and other countries. Despite this, Spain pressured for the ship to dock in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, after Cape Verde and Segarro had already refused disembarkation. The recurring question is: was the stop necessary if all passengers were asymptomatic and the ship could have continued to Rotterdam?
The Evacuation: Between Normality and Theater
The transfer operation displayed extreme measures: NBC suits, disinfection in 40 km/h winds, and an escorted UME bus. However, a health technician was filmed getting out of the vehicle without a mask or PPE, fueling suspicion that the threat wasn't real. Additionally, during the live broadcast, a young man identified as Jake Rosmarin, who had promoted ELbichito vaccines, staged a crying scene that many considered theatrical. The ship, after being anchored for a few days, set sail again for the Netherlands, with no new infections reported.
Political Management: Overstepping Competences and Smoke Screens
The Canary Islands government opposed the disembarkation, but Moncloa (the Spanish central government headquarters) imposed the protocol citing a humanitarian duty. The paradox is evident: while autonomous competences were respected during the DANA storm in Valencia, they were ignored here. Analysis forums note that media coverage of the ship lasted days, displacing other topics like corruption or the energy crisis. The sense of performance is hard to ignore, especially when Trump himself, in a parody video, said "left-wing fanatics are trying to sow antiestéticar."
Conclusion: The Ship Left, Doubts Remain
The MV Hondius has departed for Rotterdam, but questions about the political use of a health threat persist. Why was docking forced when other countries avoided it? Why was the President of the Canary Islands sidelined? What interest was there in keeping the media focus for days? While laboratories confirm or rule out bicho cases, what remains is an episode that seems written to generate antiestéticar and distract. And in that script, some actors seem to have rehearsed too much.
Related Forum Discussions
When a ship carrying a highly lethal bicho appears off the coast, the official response should be unanimous. But the case of the MV Hondius, anchored in Tenerife with 153 people on board and at least two suspected bicho cases, has raised more questions than answers. While the President of the Canary Islands denied docking permission, the central government authorized it, and images of health technicians without protective gear cast doubt on the true risk.
The Bicho and the Ship: Data That Doesn't Add Up
Andean bicho has a mortality rate close to 50%, according to the WHO, but its transmission is very specific: it requires direct contact with wild rodents from the Andes, not common rats. Of the cruise's 153 passengers, only 14 were Spanish. The rest came from the Netherlands, France, and other countries. Despite this, Spain pressured for the ship to dock in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, after Cape Verde and Segarro had already refused disembarkation. The recurring question is: was the stop necessary if all passengers were asymptomatic and the ship could have continued to Rotterdam?
The Evacuation: Between Normality and Theater
The transfer operation displayed extreme measures: NBC suits, disinfection in 40 km/h winds, and an escorted UME bus. However, a health technician was filmed getting out of the vehicle without a mask or PPE, fueling suspicion that the threat wasn't real. Additionally, during the live broadcast, a young man identified as Jake Rosmarin, who had promoted ELbichito vaccines, staged a crying scene that many considered theatrical. The ship, after being anchored for a few days, set sail again for the Netherlands, with no new infections reported.
Political Management: Overstepping Competences and Smoke Screens
The Canary Islands government opposed the disembarkation, but Moncloa (the Spanish central government headquarters) imposed the protocol citing a humanitarian duty. The paradox is evident: while autonomous competences were respected during the DANA storm in Valencia, they were ignored here. Analysis forums note that media coverage of the ship lasted days, displacing other topics like corruption or the energy crisis. The sense of performance is hard to ignore, especially when Trump himself, in a parody video, said "left-wing fanatics are trying to sow antiestéticar."
Conclusion: The Ship Left, Doubts Remain
The MV Hondius has departed for Rotterdam, but questions about the political use of a health threat persist. Why was docking forced when other countries avoided it? Why was the President of the Canary Islands sidelined? What interest was there in keeping the media focus for days? While laboratories confirm or rule out bicho cases, what remains is an episode that seems written to generate antiestéticar and distract. And in that script, some actors seem to have rehearsed too much.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (181 replies).
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