Cruise Ship Passengers Evacuated After Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak

Nearly 100 passengers were evacuated Sunday from the cruise ship MV Hondius after a hantavirus outbreak linked to three deaths onboard, according to CNN.

Spanish health officials said 94 passengers from 19 countries were safely taken off the ship after it arrived at Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. Passengers were transported in small boats from the vessel to shore before boarding buses to the airport for flights home.

Medical teams boarded the ship before the evacuation to test passengers and crew members. Several countries, including the United States, Spain, France, Canada, Ireland, and the Netherlands, arranged special flights for their citizens.

US health officials said 18 passengers heading to the United States will be monitored for 42 days, although none are currently showing symptoms.

French officials also confirmed that one French passenger developed symptoms during a repatriation flight and was placed in isolation along with four others.

The outbreak was first reported to the World Health Organization on May 2. Health authorities say the risk to the general public remains low.

The ship is expected to continue to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, where it will undergo disinfection.