Hantavirus ship heads to Netherlands after passengers flown home

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Granadilla de Abona: The cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak is currently heading to the Netherlands after its final passengers were evacuated in Spain\'s Canary Islands.

The MV Hondius sparked a global health scare after three people died from the rare virus during its voyage. On Tuesday, the ship weighed anchor to begin its journey to Rotterdam for extensive disinfection procedures.

Of the evacuated passengers and crew, at least seven have tested positive for the virus, with one woman currently in intensive care in France.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that human-to-human transmission occurred on board, officials have sought to reassure the public that this is not another pandemic. Health authorities across 23 countries are now tracking contacts to ensure the chain of transmission is broken as the vessel nears its final destination.

Photo Credits; AFP