MADRID, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The leader of Spain's Canary Islands regional government, Fernando Clavijo, on Wednesday rejected allowing a cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak to dock in the archipelago, calling for an urgent meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

The Hondius cruise ship is anchored at a port in Praia, Cape Verde, on Monday. (File photo: AP)

Speaking to Spanish media, Clavijo criticized the central government's decision to receive the vessel in the Canary Islands, saying it lacked "technical criteria" and the regional authorities had not received sufficient information to guarantee public safety.

"We will do everything possible to prevent the ship from coming to the Canary Islands," Clavijo said.

The Dutch-operated cruise ship MV Hondius is currently near Cape Verde after being denied permission to dock there following the hantavirus outbreak on board.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), seven confirmed or suspected cases have been identified on the ship, including three deaths. People are usually infected by hantavirus through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings or saliva. The WHO said it is investigating the possibility of rare human-to-human transmission involving the Andes strain of hantavirus.

Spain's health ministry confirmed Tuesday that the country would receive the vessel in the Canary Islands "in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles," following requests from the WHO and the European Union.

Spanish authorities said strict health and isolation protocols would be implemented upon the ship's arrival, with medical teams handling passenger screening, treatment and repatriation procedures.