4 weeks ago
1
The United States said connected Friday (May 9, 2026) it was organising an evacuation formation for Americans connected a hantavirus-struck cruise vessel that has sailed to the Canary Islands, which are portion of Spain.
“The Department of State is arranging a repatriation formation to enactment the harmless instrumentality of American passengers connected this ship,” a State Department spokesperson said.
The State Department said it was coordinating with the Spanish authorities arsenic good arsenic different U.S. national agencies.
“We are successful nonstop connection with Americans connected committee and are prepared to supply consular assistance arsenic soon arsenic the vessel arrives successful Tenerife, Spain,” the spokesperson said connected information of anonymity.
The vessel relation earlier said that 17 Americans were connected board. The State Department did not instantly springiness a fig of U.S. passengers.
Three passengers from the MV Hondius — a Dutch hubby and woman and a German pistillate — person died, portion others person fallen sick with the uncommon disease, which usually spreads among rodents.
The lone hantavirus strain that tin transmit from idiosyncratic to idiosyncratic — Andes microorganism — has been confirmed among those who person tested positive, fueling planetary concern.
The vessel is owed successful Tenerife connected Sunday (May 10, 2026).
The formation volition past instrumentality the American cruise passengers to Offutt Air Force Base successful Omaha, Nebraska, and past connected to a nationalist quarantine installation astatine the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
“At this time, the hazard to the American nationalist remains highly low,” the CDC said.
Nebraska Medicine, a wellness attraction network, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center said that U.S. citizens volition beryllium cared for successful the federally funded National Quarantine Unit.
“At this time, the individuals being monitored are good with nary symptoms of illness,” they said successful a statement.
The World Health Organization has said that the United States is among 12 countries with nationals who person already near the ship, connected the distant British land of Saint Helena connected April 24.
