Countries Prepare To Evacuate Hantavirus Ship Passengers

TENERIFE/MADRID, May 9 (Reuters) – Countries prepared to evacuate their citizens from the luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly strain of hantavirus that is due to anchor near Tenerife early on Sunday, as health authorities said the risk of the virus spreading was low.

The World Health Organization briefed member states with nationals on board on Saturday on how to manage the process, advising active monitoring of passengers for a 42-day period from the last point of exposure.

“I need you to hear me clearly: this is not another COVID. The current public health risk from hantavirus remains low,” World