Evacuation from Virus-Hit Cruise Ship Nears Completion; WHO: Global Risk Currently 'Low'

Odaily, Feb 11 – On local time the 11th, as the last batch of Australian passengers were evacuated from Spain’s Canary Islands, the multi-day international medical evacuation and personnel transfer operation for the “Hondius” cruise ship’s Hantavirus outbreak is drawing to a close. The vessel carried over 140 passengers and crew from 23 countries. In the past few weeks, the Hantavirus outbreak has resulted in multiple deaths, drawing international concern. Several countries have been conducting evacuation operations.

Early on local time the 10th, the “Hondius” cruise ship entered waters near the port of Granadilla on Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. Instead of docking directly at the pier, the closely-watched ship anchored several hundred meters offshore, after which the cross-border medical evacuation and personnel transfer operation began. (Xinhua News Agency)