Spain prepares for evacuations as a hantavirus-hit cruise ship heads for the Canary Islands
Summary
Spanish health officials are preparing to evacuate more than 140 people from a cruise ship infected with hantavirus as it arrives in the Canary Islands. Several passengers have died, and countries including the U.S. and the U.K. are working to repatriate their citizens and trace contacts. The World Health Organization says the overall risk to the public remains low.Key Facts
- The cruise ship MV Hondius, flagged in the Netherlands, is arriving at Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
- More than 140 passengers and crew members are on board; some have died from hantavirus.
- Spanish authorities plan to isolate and carefully evacuate people from the ship.
- The U.S. is sending a plane to bring back its 17 citizens; the U.K. will also evacuate about two dozen British nationals.
- Hantavirus usually spreads through contact with rodent droppings but the Andes variant on the ship may rarely spread between people.
- Health officials worldwide are tracing passengers who left the ship to prevent further spread.
- The WHO tested a flight attendant who had contact with a sick passenger; her test was negative, lowering fears of wider transmission.
- Cases have been confirmed or suspected in several countries, including the Netherlands, South Africa, and the U.K.
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