First Flight of Evacuated Passengers from MV Hondius Departs for Madrid

The first rescue flight carrying Spanish passengers from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius has officially departed from Tenerife today. Following a meticulously planned disembarkation at the port of Granadilla, travelers were moved through "sterile corridors" to the airport to ensure zero contact with the local public. While the passengers are currently asymptomatic, they are being treated under a 45-day high-vigilance protocol due to the deaths of three individuals on board the vessel earlier this month. The Spanish Ministry of Health has confirmed that upon arrival in Madrid, the passengers will be placed in specialized monitoring facilities. This operation represents one of the largest bio-security logistical challenges handled by Spain in recent years. The cruise ship itself remains anchored at the Canary Islands for deep disinfection by specialized teams, while the WHO continues to monitor the rare human-to-human transmission pattern observed during this specific hantavirus cluster.