Five European countries are preparing evacuation flights to rescue their citizens from a cruise ship heading to Spain after a reported outbreak of Hantavirus on board, according to Spanish authorities.
Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, said on Saturday that Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands have confirmed plans to dispatch aircraft to evacuate their nationals from the affected vessel.
The minister added that the European Union will also send two additional aircraft to transport the remaining European citizens stranded on the cruise ship amid growing health concerns.
Grande-Marlaska further revealed that both the United States and the United Kingdom are coordinating emergency response plans and arranging evacuation flights for non-European Union citizens whose countries are unable to send dedicated aircraft.
The cruise ship, which was travelling towards Spain, has become the center of an international health and evacuation operation following the reported spread of Hantavirus, a rare but potentially serious infectious disease.
Authorities have not yet released official figures regarding the number of infected passengers or crew members, while emergency protocols continue to be implemented by European and international agencies.
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