All 17 American travelers on the hantavirus-affected MV Hondius have been airlifted from Tenerife, Spain, with two being transported home in isolation units after one individual tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus. A total of 94 passengers from 19 different countries were disembarked on May 10 while fully equipped in protective gear. Since the outbreak started, three individuals have lost their lives. US passengers are being taken to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, followed by transfer to the National Quarantine Center at the University of Nebraska. The WHO indicates that the risk to the general public remains low, although the Andes strain is the only known hantavirus capable of human-to-human transmission.
