Government jet lands in Ireland after hantavirus evacuation flight from Tenerife

"The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a 42-day quarantine for all passengers from the boat from Sunday. Planes for the Spanish and French nationals had departed by 1130 GMT. Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, Turkey, Ireland, and the United States were listed by Spanish health minister Monica Garcia as the next countries to evacuate their citizens, with the Dutch plane also due to take Germans, Belgians and Greeks."

"Hantavirus, which is usually spread by rodents but can in rare cases be transmitted person-to-person, was first detected on May 2, 21 days after the first passenger died, by South African health officials testing a British man who was in intensive care. Two other former passengers have died since."

"The luxury cruise ship left for Spain on Wednesday from the coast of Cape Verde after the WHO and European Union asked the country to manage the evacuation of passengers after the hantavirus outbreak was detected. The agency said the first case may have been infected before boarding, possibly during travel in Argentina and Chile, with later spread likely occurring on the ship."

"The MV Hondius, which is at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak, docked in Tenerife in the Canary Islands on Sunday morning. Spanish authorities have been conducting health checks and disembarking passengers. The Irish aircraft flew to and from the island from Baldonnel Aerodrome on Sunday."

The MV Hondius docked in Tenerife as Spanish authorities conducted health checks and disembarked passengers. An Irish aircraft flew to and from the island, with flight tracking showing departure around 5.40pm and return to a military air base in west County Dublin shortly after 9pm. Two ambulances left the airport just before 9.30pm. The WHO recommended a 42-day quarantine for all passengers from the boat starting Sunday. Planes carrying Spanish and French nationals departed by 1130 GMT, while additional countries including Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, Turkey, Ireland, and the United States were listed for further evacuations. Hantavirus was first detected on May 2 after a British man was tested in intensive care, and later deaths occurred. The WHO reported that no rodents were detected on the ship and that the first case may have been infected before boarding, with later spread likely occurring onboard.

Read at Irish Independent