90-Second Read: Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship arrives at Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands

A Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship with more than 140 people on board has arrived at Tenerife, one of Spain's Canary Islands off the coast of West Africa. TENERIFE, Spain (AP), A Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship with more than 140 people on board has arrived at Tenerife, the largest of Spain's Canary Islands, off the coast of West Africa, where the passengers and some of the crew are to disembark. Three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who left the ship are infected with Hantavirus, which can cause life-threatening illness. The World Health Organization, Spanish authorities and cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions have said that nobody on board the MV Hondius is currently showing symptoms of the virus. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with Spain's health and interior ministers, were.

Hantavirus usually spreads when people inhale contaminated residue of rodent droppings and isn't easily transmitted between people. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. Some crew, as well as the body of a passenger who died on board, will remain on the ship, which will sail on to the Netherlands where it will undergo disinfection, Spanish authorities said. Authorities have said the passengers and crew members who will disembark will have no contact with the local population. Authorities are aiming to complete the evacuation flights on Sunday and Monday, the director of the WHO's Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Management, Maria Van Kerkhove, said in a briefing Saturday.

The ship will not dock but will remain at anchor, with people ferried off in small boats. Everyone disembarking will be checked for symptoms, and will only be taken off the ship once evacuation flights are ready to fly them to their destinations. There are currently people of more than 20 different nationalities on board. Symptoms usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure. All Spanish passengers will be transferred to a medical facility and quarantined.

Americans are to be quarantined at a medical center in Nebraska. Oceanwide has listed 13 Spanish passengers and one Spanish crew member on board. Those disembarking will leave behind their luggage, and will be allowed to take only a small bag with essential items, a cellphone, charger and documentation.