Cruise passengers evacuated after hantavirus outbreak

Spain has started evacuating passengers from a cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak after the vessel docked near Tenerife.

Health officials said no one currently on board the MS Hondius is showing symptoms.

Passengers are being taken ashore in small boats and separated by nationality before boarding charter flights home.

Spanish citizens will be moved first, followed by passengers from other European countries, the UK, the US and Australia.

The ship arrived in the Canary Islands after three passengers died during the outbreak.

The World Health Organization says the risk of wider spread is low, but those evacuated will still face quarantine.