Saturday, May 09, 2026

World News

Hanta virus outbreak triggers international evacuation effort

Several European nations, along with the United States and Britain, are preparing emergency evacuation operations after a cruise ship bound for Spain reported an outbreak of the Hanta virus.

TAS News Service

info@thearabianstories.com

Saturday, May 9, 2026

MADRID : Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, announced today that Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands have confirmed plans to send aircraft to evacuate their citizens from the affected cruise ship.

The vessel, which was travelling towards Spain, is currently facing a Hanta virus outbreak, raising concerns among authorities over the safety of passengers on board.

Grande-Marlaska said the European Union would also dispatch two additional planes to assist in transporting remaining European citizens stranded on the ship.

The minister further revealed that both the United States and Britain have confirmed contingency arrangements to evacuate their nationals. Plans are also being coordinated for passengers from non-European Union countries whose governments may not have the capacity to send evacuation aircraft.

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