Hantavirus: First evacuation flight leaves Tenerife

"The plane carrying 13 passengers and one crew member evacuated from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship has left the Tenerife airport and is flying towards Madrid, where the group is to be placed in quarantine. This is the first out of several evacuation flights expected today and tomorrow. While health officials insist there is little danger of the virus spreading, evacuation teams are also taking heavy precautions."

"The MV Hondius arrived off the Spanish port of Granadilla, Tenerife with more than 140 from 20 nations aboard, triggering an international evacuation effort. The vessel did not dock and is anchored in the harbor. None of the remaining passengers or crew have shown symptoms of infection, though all will be tested."

"Spanish nationals were the first to leave the ship anchored off Tenerife and will be quarantined on arrival in Madrid. The Spanish nationals aboard the plane are to be quarantined in a military hospital. The US, the UK, and several European countries are dispatched aircraft to evacuate their citizens."

"The head of the World Health Organization said the risk posed by the hantavirus outbreak remains low. While health officials insist there is little danger of the virus spreading, evacuation teams are also taking heavy precautions. German firefighters to pick up German Hondius passengers from a Dutch airport as multiple nations work to transfer their nationals from Tenerife."

The MV Hondius arrived off the Spanish port of Granadilla, Tenerife, without docking and remained anchored in the harbor. Spanish nationals were the first to leave the ship and were evacuated by plane to Madrid. The 13 passengers and one crew member on the first flight are to be placed in quarantine in a military hospital. Additional evacuation flights are expected over the next two days, with aircraft dispatched by the US, the UK, and several European countries to evacuate their citizens. Health officials stated that none of the remaining passengers or crew had shown symptoms, though all will be tested. The World Health Organization said the risk posed by the outbreak remains low, while evacuation teams take heavy precautions.

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