Preparations at the Central Defence Hospital
The Central Defence Hospital Gómez Ulla, located in the Madrid neighbourhood of Aluche, is currently preparing to receive 14 Spaniards who have been in contact with an outbreak of hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. These individuals, who will disembark from Tenerife, show no symptoms but will undergo strict quarantine as a preventive measure.
According to hospital sources, the 14 contacts will be accommodated on an empty floor of the centre, where each will have their own room. This protocol is similar to that implemented during the evacuation of citizens from Wuhan at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. During their stay, they will receive three meals a day and have their temperature taken twice daily to monitor their health.
Questions remain about how long they will be admitted. The World Health Organization (WHO) must determine the start of the incubation period, which can extend up to 42 days. This has generated uncertainty among both patients and medical staff.
If any of them show symptoms compatible with hantavirus, they will be transferred to the 22nd floor of the hospital, where the High-Level Isolation Unit (UAAN) is located. This space is designed to ensure total isolation and is equipped with advanced technology to prevent contagion.
Despite the organisational deployment, unions have expressed concern over the lack of staff. It is estimated that around 70 additional workers will be needed to meet the demands during this quarantine. However, CCOO has pointed out that contracts for 60 employees were recently not renewed, and another 100 are scheduled to be laid off due to budgetary constraints.
Moreover, with the imminent implementation of a reduced working week of 35 hours, it is anticipated that the number of professionals available to adequately care for patients will need to increase even further. Jesús López Villalba, spokesperson for the CCOO union, warned of the potential complications this could generate: "This could be a Molotov cocktail."
Not only is physical health prioritised; a protocol has also been established to ensure the emotional well-being of the contacts. They will be provided with technological means to communicate with their families through video calls during their confinement.
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