Two Irish nationals aboard a cruise ship struck by a hantavirus outbreak have been confirmed as safe and well by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, reports Breaking News.
Three people have died in connection with the outbreak on board the MV Hondius.
The virus has been linked to a birdwatching trip in Argentina that some of the passengers undertook before boarding the vessel, reports Breaking News.
Speaking in Co Armagh on Friday, Minister Helen McEntee said: “In terms of the two Irish passengers, I am pleased to say that they are safe and well,” reports Breaking News.
She said her department had been in direct contact with both passengers and had also been liaising with the HSE to determine what precautions would need to be in place for their return home.
She added: “But obviously the priority is to make sure that they can get home as quickly as possible, and we’re working with them and engaging with them,” reports Breaking News.
Ms McEntee described the situation as “very difficult” for the families of those who had died and for all others on board the vessel.
The ship departed Cape Verde on Wednesday and was expected to dock at Tenerife in the early hours of Sunday, subject to change, reports Breaking News.
Minister of State Seán Canney confirmed that a plan was being developed to ensure the Irish citizens were safely repatriated and that their care upon arrival was being coordinated in line with guidance from the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
He noted that the HSE’s national incident management team had been activated to lead the public health response, reports Breaking News.
Ms McEntee was speaking following a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council, where she and other leaders were questioned about the potential for greater cross-border cooperation on disease responses.
Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said viruses “don’t respect borders” and that cooperation “where it is practical” was the logical approach, reports Breaking News.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin echoed this sentiment, saying that public health officials on both sides of the border already enjoy strong working relationships, which he described as essential, reports Breaking News.
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