Fifteen passengers from the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius have arrived at the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid to begin quarantine after the hantavirus outbreak detected on the ship.
The transfer departs from the port of Granadilla, in Tenerife, as part of an international operation that has already activated flights and repatriations to several countries.
Granadilla coordinates the departure of 14 Spaniards and five residents in Catalonia
The first arrival at Gómez Ulla includes 14 Spanish passengers and five residents in Catalonia, all from the same affected cruise ship.
The device has also facilitated the departure of five French and four Canadian passengers, while a flight to the United States has taken off from Tenerife South.
"All transferred passengers remain asymptomatic and no suspected cases have been detected among travelers or crew" - Javier Padilla, Secretary of State for Health
Padilla thus placed the transfer in a scenario without suspected positives among those who have traveled off the ship.
Health Ministry expects new flights on Monday to Australia and the Netherlands
Health authorities continue coordinating with the captain of the MV Hondius for the distribution of the remaining travelers on international flights.
For Monday, new air operations to Australia and the Netherlands are scheduled.
Part of the crew will return to Europe by sea and will then travel to the Netherlands.
"With absolute safety for the local population" - Mónica García, Minister of Health
The minister framed the Granadilla operation within an operation that participates with 23 countries and recalled a similar health drill in Las Palmas a month ago.
García asked to avoid "disinformation, controversy, and alarmism" around the case while the disinfection of the ship will be carried out after leaving Tenerife.