Three passengers from the MV Hondius, a Dutch husband and wife and a German woman, have died, while others have fallen sick with the rare disease, which usually spreads among rodents.

Three passengers from the MV Hondius, a Dutch husband and wife and a German woman, have died, while others have fallen sick with the rare disease, which usually spreads among rodents.

The final flight to evacuate most of the ship's nearly 150 passengers and crew will leave for Australia on Monday (May 11), before the ship continues to the Netherlands, Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia said.

Spain has agreed to take the MV Hondius in the Canary Islands after a deadly hantavirus outbreak on board. The move will allow medical treatment, screening and repatriation as the WHO probes suspected close-contact transmission.