The US State Department has announced it is arranging a repatriation flight for American citizens aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak. The vessel is heading to Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands with over 140 passengers on board.

A State Department spokesperson said the department is closely tracking the outbreak and is in contact with cruise staff, Americans on board, and health authorities. Consular assistance will be provided once the ship reaches Tenerife. There are 17 US citizens among the passengers.

Spanish authorities plan to disembark passengers on Sunday and fly them to their home countries. However, adverse weather conditions mean the evacuation must be carried out quickly; otherwise, the ship may have to leave. The vessel will anchor offshore, with passengers transferred by smaller boats.

The outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can spread from human to human. Three passengers have died. The World Health Organization (WHO) assesses the overall risk as low but warns that more cases may emerge due to an incubation period of up to six weeks.

Two Singaporean residents who were on the ship have tested negative but remain in 30-day quarantine. A woman in Germany also tested negative, but precautions continue as symptoms may appear later. Health authorities worldwide are monitoring contacts.

Source: www.dw.com