Geneva: The head of the World Health Organisation on Wednesday sought to allay fears over a deadly hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, saying the situation does not resemble the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Asked whether the global body viewed the outbreak as comparable to the initial Covid-19 crisis, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told AFP: "No, I don't think so."

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The MV Hondius has been at the centre of an international health alert since Saturday, when the WHO was informed that three passengers had died, with hantavirus suspected as the cause. The Dutch-flagged vessel, which departed Ushuaia in Argentina on April 1 for an Atlantic voyage, has been anchored off Cape Verde since Sunday.

According to the WHO, the ship had 88 passengers and 59 crew members from 23 nationalities onboard.

In response to the outbreak, two air ambulances departed Cape Verde on Wednesday to evacuate three individuals believed to be infected. The WHO chief said the patients had already been transferred from the vessel and were being flown to the Netherlands for treatment.

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Meanwhile, Spain confirmed that the cruise ship is expected to dock within three days at Granadilla port on the island of Tenerife, despite objections from the Canary Islands regional government.

Spain’s Health Minister Monica Garcia Gomez said, "A joint system for health assessment and evacuation will be put in place to repatriate all passengers, unless their medical condition prevents it."

She added that 14 Spanish nationals onboard, including one crew member, would be transferred to Madrid’s Gomez Ulla Military Hospital upon arrival.

Garcia also said authorities were closely tracking developments. "The government was monitoring the international alert 'minute by minute' to take all steps to prevent any potential spread of the virus."