Spanish health officials board hantavirus-hit cruise ship to begin evacuation of passengers

TENERIFE, May 10 (Reuters) - Spain has begun the evacuation process of passengers from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship anchored near Tenerife on Sunday with health officials boarding the boat to conduct a final check and begin disembarking passengers, Spain's health ministry said.

The first group of passengers, who are Spanish nationals, will be taken back to shore on small boats and immediately transferred into sealed buses to the local airport where they will fly back to Madrid on a Spanish government plane, government officials said, emphasising they will have no contact with members of the public.