Passengers from the Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius are finally being evacuated from Spain’s Canary Islands. After days of uncertainty, passengers on the MV Hondius are finally leaving the cruise ship. Spanish authorities launched a major evacuation in the Canary Islands over fears of the spread of the deadly hantavirus linked to the ship.The cruise ship showed up in Teneriffe on Sunday, after a tense spell dodging closed ports and increasing health restrictions, according to Reuters. The outbreak has already killed at least three people and sickened many more. As international attention focused on the situation, Spain worked closely with World Health OrganizationThe US Centers for Disease Control, and other European governments to manage the crisis. All eyes were on the American passengers as they finally disembarked the ship and boarded the flight to America. Reports say that once they land they will be kept in isolation and monitored for symptoms.This entire episode has become one of the most watched cruise ship health emergencies since COVID-19. Despite the outcry, health officials have said the risk to the broader public is still low.

hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius: How it unfolded

The cruise ship MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, in early April for a South Atlantic and Antarctic voyage, AP News reported. En route, passengers began feeling ill, showing symptoms of hantavirus infection. When deaths and serious illnesses occurred, concern spread to health agencies around the world.Investigators believe the Andes strain of Hantavirus is behind this epidemic. This rare variant, although rarely, can be passed between people, which has raised international concerns. Still, experts say this kind of transmission is far from common.When Hondius approached Europe, many ports refused to take the ship, concerned about how they would handle containment and quarantine. Ultimately, Spain said yes, calling it a humanitarian move and ensuring things were coordinated with global health authorities.Images from Tenerife show passengers disembarking under strict biosecurity procedures, with staff in protective suits monitoring the operation. Charter planes and government jets were immediately ready to fly people home, and efforts were made to limit any exposure.

Results: How’s the withdrawal going?

ABC News reports that the American passengers departed Spain on a repatriation flight after landing in Tenerife. Officials say none of them have tested positive yet, but it may take a while for hantavirus to appear, so they are still considered at risk.Americans are expected to go to the national quarantine unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, one of the few places set up for high-level infectious disease containment. Authorities plan to keep a close eye on everyone for weeks.The first people to leave the ship were Spanish civilians, who were sent to Madrid for medical care and quarantine in military hospitals. Meanwhile, travelers from the UK, France, Germany, Canada and other countries are being sent home under strict health monitoring.The World Health Organization (WHO) is still tracing all those who had contact with the Hondius, especially those who left the ship at earlier, remote stops before the outbreak spread.

What will happen next?

Despite all the headlines, health experts insist that hantavirus does not spread like COVID-19. Most cases come from direct contact with contaminated rodent feces, saliva or urine. The Andes strain is unusual for its rare person-to-person spread, previously reported only in South America. US health officials are repeating the message: The risk to the public is low. But for anyone potentially exposed to it, quarantine is strict.As for the ship, it should head to Rotterdam for a deep clean soon after all passengers have disembarked. Some crew members are staying on to help get it there.The Indian Embassy in Spain says the two Indian crew members are safe and asymptomatic, but are in quarantine in the Netherlands.How it all started is still a big question mark. Investigators believe the original exposure probably occurred before people boarded the ship — perhaps during a voyage to Argentina or Chile, where the virus exists naturally. Till now no one knows whether there was live transmission among the passengers during the journey or not.