A 56-year-old British doctor evacuated from a virus-stricken cruise ship is now in a stable condition after previously being listed as critical, according to Spain’s health ministry.
The doctor was among three passengers airlifted from the MV Hondius off Cape Verde on Wednesday. Dutch authorities confirmed the evacuees include nationals from the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands.
The vessel, which departed Argentina on April 1, has been dealing with an outbreak of hantavirus. Several passengers have been infected, with three fatalities reported so far.
Meanwhile, tensions have emerged in Spain over plans to allow the ship to dock in Tenerife. The president of the Canary Islands has voiced opposition to the move, citing safety concerns.
However, Spanish authorities maintain that the docking plan is safe and that appropriate health protocols are in place.
In a related development, officials in Switzerland confirmed that a man who had travelled on the cruise ship is being treated in hospital after testing positive for the virus. Authorities there say person-to-person transmission remains rare and the risk to the public is considered low.
Health officials across affected regions continue to monitor the situation closely as efforts to contain the outbreak intensify.