Passengers from the hantavirus-hit MV Hondius are starting to fly home from Tenerife after a coordinated evacuation operation. Military and government planes have begun moving travelers, many escorted by personnel in full protective gear. Spanish and French passengers were reportedly the first to leave, while the wider response involving more than 20 countries is expected to continue through Monday.
The EU health agency says every passenger aboard a cruise ship affected by a deadly hantavirus outbreak is considered a high-risk contact. As the ship anchors off Tenerife, asymptomatic travellers will be repatriated via special transport to self-quarantine. Symptomatic passengers will get priority for medical assessment and testing on arrival.
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WHO chief directly reassured residents in Tenerife as a Dutch-flagged MV Hondius carrying over 140 passengers and crew is set to be evacuated after a hantavirus outbreak onboard. Authorities say the vessel is headed to Spain’s Canary Islands and is expected to arrive at Tenerife early Sunday, with the WHO insisting this is “not another COVID.”
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