Nations Evacuate Cruise Ship Over Hantavirus Outbreak
Several countries will send planes to evacuate their citizens from a cruise ship. The ship is called the MV Hondius.
It is heading to Tenerife, Spain amid a hantavirus outbreak. The outbreak has caused 8 cases and 3 deaths.
The World Health Organization confirmed 6 of those cases are linked to the ship. The European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom will help remaining passengers.
Those passengers are not covered by their own country's evacuation. Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands are each sending planes.
The specific virus is called the Andes virus. It is the only known hantavirus that can spread between people.
The US Centers for Disease Control has classed this as a Level 3 emergency. Reports say 17 American passengers will quarantine at a facility in Nebraska.
The World Health Organization chief travelled to Tenerife to reassure local residents. He said this is "not another COVID."
Key Terms 5
- Hantavirus A rare virus spread by rodents that can cause serious illness
- Andes virus A type of hantavirus that can spread from person to person
- Level 3 emergency The highest alert level used by the US Centers for Disease Control
- Quarantine Keeping people separated to stop a disease from spreading
- Tenerife A Spanish island off the northwest coast of Africa