Spain’s interior minister says Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands will dispatch aircraft to evacuate their citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which is affected by a hantavirus outbreak on route to Tenerife. Spain also says the European Union is arranging additional transport for remaining European citizens, while the United States and the United Kingdom have confirmed they will provide planes.
Earlier reporting cites the World Health Organization as saying eight people fall ill, including three deaths, involving a Dutch couple and a German national.
In later updates, Spain’s health minister says the final group of evacuees—22 people—will leave on a single plane to the Netherlands on Monday rather than using two separate flights. She adds that the flight will also carry citizens who were scheduled to travel on an Australian flight, noting that Australian authorities cannot guarantee the arrival time. The evacuations are presented as coordinated logistics to remove passengers affected by the outbreak and related public health measures.
