Spain Begins Evacuating Passengers from Hantavirus-Stricken Cruise Ship in Tenerife

First Group of Spanish Passengers Disembarks from Hantavirus-Hit Cruise Ship

The Spanish government has begun evacuating the first passengers from the MV Hondius, which docked in Tenerife on Sunday morning, ending a voyage that began in southern Argentina on 1 April.

A small group of passengers, all Spanish nationals, are now being transported to Tenerife's port of Granadilla, according to Spain's health ministry.

Officials said the passengers will be taken directly from the port by military buses to the airport and then flown to Madrid on a Spanish government plane, where they will be hospitalized and placed in quarantine.