A Dutch cruise ship with a Hantavirus outbreak on board is to sail to the Canary Islands, Spain has said, BBC reported.
Spain's health ministry said officials were determining which passengers required urgent evacuation from Cape Verde, where the ship was docked.
The remaining passengers would go on to the Canary Islands, where they were expected to arrive within three to four days, it said, adding that the exact port of arrival had not yet been decided. Cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said its plan was to sail to "Gran Canaria or Tenerife".
Three passengers who were aboard the MV Hondius have died, after it set sail from Argentina on its voyage across the Atlantic Ocean around a month ago.
Two crew members, including the ship's doctor, require urgent medical care and are waiting to be medically evacuated. A third person linked to a German national who died is also due to be evacuated.
In its statement, the health ministry said the doctor, who was in serious condition, was due to be evacuated to the Canary Islands on Tuesday on a hospital aircraft.
It said the World Health Organization (WHO) had explained that Cape Verde "cannot carry out this operation".
"The Canary Islands are the closest location with the necessary capabilities. Spain has a moral and legal obligation to assist these people, among whom are several Spanish citizens," the statement added.
bd-pratidin/GR
