Speaking in County Armagh, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Helen McEntee, said: “In terms of the two Irish passengers, I am pleased to say that they are safe and well.”
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Two Irish people on board a virus-hit cruise ship are “safe and well”, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has said.
Three people in total have died linked to an outbreak of hantavirus on the MV Hondius.
The outbreak has been linked to a birdwatching expedition in Argentina, which two of the passengers participated in before boarding the ship.
Speaking in County Armagh on Friday, Helen McEntee said: “In terms of the two Irish passengers, I am pleased to say that they are safe and well.”
She said her team has been “engaging directly with them” and also with the Health Service Executive (HSE) to see what measures “would need to be taken when they do get 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.”
It is a “very difficult situation” for the families of those who have died, Ms McEntee said, “and for all of those on board”.
The boat left Cape Verde on Wednesday and is expected to arrive at a port in Tenerife in the early hours of Sunday, but this is subject to change. Angry protestors took to the streets on the island, holding placards reading “unsafe port” or “for work no, for the risk yes,” in a message to politicians.
Experts believe the virus’s incubation period in the human body can last up to 6 weeks.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) does not expect the outbreak to become an epidemic.
Ms McEntee was responding to questions following a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council.
She and other leaders were asked whether there would be a stronger cross-border response to diseases such as hantavirus.
Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said viruses “don’t respect borders”.
“I think that it is logical that we do have that co-operation, that we do improve in relation to those communications,” she said.
She said, regardless of unionist or nationalist positions, “where it is practical, we should co-operate”.
“Where it is actually about the protection of our citizens, of course, we should cooperate, and that’s why we should build those good relationships.”
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: “It’s imperative that public health officials have good relationships and, thankfully, public health officials on both sides of the border have very good relationships.”
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