Cruise ship stricken by hantavirus reaches Canary Islands, where passengers, some crew, will be evacuated

"The MV Hondius, currently carrying nearly 150 people from more than 15 countries, including 17 Americans, had set sail earlier this week from Cape Verde to the port of Granadilla on Tenerife - the largest of the Canary Islands - after Spain agreed to take the ship. Video from Reuters showed the ship anchored near the Port of Granadilla. Hondius was escorted by a Spanish Civil Guard vessel, Agence France-Press journalists reported."

"The World Health Organization has said that, so far, none of those still aboard were showing symptoms. There are at least nine confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus linked to the outbreak, including three fatalities, a Dutch couple and a German woman. Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship's operator, says that all passengers and a portion of the approximately 60 crew members will begin evacuating the ship Sunday using launch boats that carry a maximum of five to 10 people."

"The evacuation is being coordinated by WHO and several other health organizations. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus traveled to Tenerife prior to the ship's arrival. After those people have disembarked, a skeleton crew will take on supplies and then begin the journey to Rotterdam, Netherlands, which is expected to take about five days, Oceanwide Expeditions said."

"Once removed from the Hondius, the Americans will be flown back to the U.S. in a plane that was sent by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services. The CDC said it was sending a team of epidemiologists and medical professionals to the Canary Islands to "conduct an exposure risk assessment for each American passenger and provide recommendations for the level o"

A Dutch-flagged cruise ship, MV Hondius, arrived early Sunday at Granadilla on Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands after a hantavirus outbreak. Nearly 150 people from more than 15 countries, including 17 Americans, were aboard. Health officials began preparing a complex evacuation and repatriation process coordinated by the World Health Organization and other health organizations. WHO said none of those still aboard were showing symptoms so far. There were at least nine confirmed or suspected hantavirus cases linked to the outbreak, including three fatalities. Passengers and most crew would evacuate using launch boats, then a skeleton crew would take supplies and sail to Rotterdam. Americans would be flown back to the U.S., with CDC teams conducting exposure risk assessments and recommendations.

Read at Cbsnews