A number of European countries are preparing for the threat of hantavirus

Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands have confirmed the dispatch of aircraft to Spain to evacuate their citizens from a cruise liner on board which an outbreak of hantavirus occurred.

This was reported by Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, citing the Reuters news agency.

According to him, the European Union is sending two additional aircraft to evacuate citizens of other European countries. The United States and the United Kingdom have also confirmed the readiness of special flights and emergency evacuation plans for their citizens.

Under safety regulations, passengers are allowed to take only essential belongings with them. All remaining luggage, as well as the body of a passenger who died on board, will remain on the ship and be sent to the Netherlands for complete disinfection.

It is reported that Spanish citizens will be the first to leave the liner. The order of evacuation for the remaining groups of passengers will be determined by health authorities.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska added that passengers are prohibited from going ashore until the evacuation flights are fully ready for departure.