Why hantavirus isn’t the next pandemic, according to health officials

(NEXSTAR) — U.S. health officials are preparing to receive Americans who were aboard the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius, saying Friday that they are expected to be taken to an Air Force base aboard a medical repatriation flight.

Passengers were being evacuated from the ship, anchored off Spain’s Canary Islands, on Sunday. Spanish nationals were the first to leave, the Associated Press reported, followed by French and Canadian nationals. A Dutch plane was set to carry Germans, Belgians, and Greeks, and the U.S. plane was scheduled to arrive Sunday evening.

Three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers infected with hantavirus previously left the ship.

Slideshow: Passengers from MV Hondius evacuating

Passengers are screened with a temperature scanner before boarding a plane bound for Canada, after disembarking from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at the airport in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Arturo Rodriguez)

A passenger boards a French government plane after disembarking from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at the airport in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Arturo Rodriguez)

Passengers are disembarked from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Passengers are disembarked from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Passengers are disembarked from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo)

Passengers watch as others are disembarked from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo)

A passenger waves to the Guardia Civil officers as they are disembarked........

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