Spain launches major evacuation after hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship

Passengers aboard the cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak have begun returning home after the vessel arrived in Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands.

Three people died onboard the Hondius after it departed South America on April 1.

The Dutch-flagged ship was later allowed to dock at Granadilla de Abona near Tenerife Sur airport after spending weeks stranded at sea.

Spanish health authorities said Spanish nationals were the first to leave, travelling to Madrid for quarantine.

Flights later departed for Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Britain, France, the United States and other countries.

According to the Press Association, 20 British passengers were flown to Manchester before being transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital near Liverpool for observation and testing.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said one passenger developed symptoms during the repatriation flight to Paris, where five people were placed in strict isolation.

Videos showed port workers and passengers wearing hazmat suits, respirators and masks during the evacuation process.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sought to calm concerns in Tenerife, writing in an open letter: “I need you to hear me clearly. This is not another COVID.”

WHO official Maria Van Kerkhove said passengers onboard were considered “a high-risk contact”, but the risk to the general public remained low.