Cruise ship with hantavirus outbreak to sail to Canary Islands

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Cruise ship with hantavirus outbreak to sail to Canary Islands6 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Watch: Passenger video from inside the cruise ship at the centre of the hantavirus outbreakA Dutch cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak on board is to sail to the Canary Islands, Spain has said. Spain's health ministry said officials are determining which passengers require urgent evacuation from Cape Verde, where the ship is currently docked. The remaining passengers will go on to the Canary Islands, where they are expected to arrive within three to four days, it said, adding that the exact port of arrival has not yet been decided.

Three passengers who were aboard the MV Hondius have died, after it set sail from Argentina on its voyage across the Atlantic Ocean around a month ago. Two crew members, including the ship's doctor, require urgent medical care and are waiting to be medically evacuated. A third person person linked to a German national who died is also due to be evacuated.

The Details

In its statement, the health ministry said the doctor, who is in serious condition, will be evacuated to the Canary Islands today on a hospital aircraft. It said the World Health Organization (WHO) had explained that Cape Verde "cannot carry out this operation". "The Canary Islands are the closest location with the necessary capabilities.

Spain has a moral and legal obligation to assist these people, among whom are several Spanish citizens," the statement added. Hantavirus is usually spread from rodents, but the WHO has said it could have spread among "really close contacts" aboard the ship. It stressed the risk to the public was low.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.