New Delhi, May 11 -- The first day of evacuations from the cruise ship at the center of the hantavirus outbreak has concluded, with 94 passengers of 19 nationalities evacuated from the vessel, according to Spanish health authorities.

A hantavirus outbreak linked to the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius has prompted emergency evacuations, multi-country contact tracing and a formal response from the World Health Organization, after six confirmed cases and three deaths were recorded among people connected to the vessel. Health authorities across Europe, South Africa and beyond are now working to identify everyone who may have been exposed.

The MV Hondius arrived at the Spanish island of Tenerife on Sunday morning carrying 147 people. By th...