Hantavirus-hit cruise ship arrives in Tenerife with Spanish passengers to be evacuated first Europe live

"The last flight of the entire procedure is scheduled for tomorrow, which is the flight to Australia, she told the press. The ship's 14 Spaniards would leave first, followed by a Dutch flight that would also take citizens from Germany, Belgium, Greece and part of the crew, Garcia said. Separate flights for Canadian, Turkish, French, British, Irish and US citizens were also planned for Sunday, she added."

"Spanish health officials have said all the passengers on the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius remain asymptomatic after the vessel arrived in Tenerife on Sunday, almost a month after the first passenger died of the rodent-borne disease on board the ship. The anchoring has been a success despite all the difficulties, the health minister, Monica Garcia, said after intensive preparations to receive the ship in the port of Granadilla were carried out over recent days."

"Garcia said they were undergoing a final medical assessment before their disembarkation and confirmed that all the repatriation flights taking citizens back to their countries will take off by tomorrow. At 7:30am the maritime health team boarded the ship. Photograph: ANP/Shutterstock Share Good morning, and welcome to our Europe live blog."

"There were 146 passengers from 20 different nationalities onboard the MV Hondius, where an outbreak has killed three people and caused an international health scare. These countries included the UK, the US, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, the Philippines and Singapore."

A maritime health team boarded MV Hondius at 7:30am to conduct final checks and begin disembarking passengers in Tenerife. Spanish health officials reported that all passengers remain asymptomatic after the ship arrived nearly a month after the first death from hantavirus. Intensive preparations were carried out to receive the vessel at the port of Granadilla de Abona, and anchoring was described as successful despite difficulties. Repatriation flights are planned to depart by tomorrow, with Spanish nationals leaving first, followed by a Dutch flight carrying citizens from multiple countries and part of the crew. Separate flights are planned for Canadian, Turkish, French, British, Irish, and US citizens on Sunday.

Read at www.theguardian.com