Hantavirus-Stricken Cruise Ship Passengers Put on Flights Home

Repatriation flights of passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak began on Sunday.

“We currently have 23 countries that have nationalities on board, either through passengers or crew,” Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the World Health Organization, said on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing. “The operation started this morning at 7:30 local time, and we’ll continue to about 7:30, 8 o’clock tonight, and then continue tomorrow.”

Canadian nationals evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship board a plane at Tenerife Sur airport in Tenerife, Spain, on May 11.

Photographer: Álex Rosa/Europa Press/AP Photo

The cruise ship docked in Granadilla Port in Tenerife, Spain, on Sunday, and Van Kerkhove said flights have already left to repatriate ...