ATHENS, May 10 (Xinhua) -- A Greek citizen who was among the passengers aboard the hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to be repatriated within the next few hours under strict safety protocols, the Greek authorities announced on Sunday.

The passenger will first be transported aboard a Dutch aircraft to Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands before being flown to the military airport in Elefsina, near Athens, on a special Greek Air Force flight, according to a statement from the Greek Health Ministry.

Upon arrival, he will be transferred by ambulance to a specially equipped negative-pressure isolation unit at a public hospital, where he will undergo a mandatory 45-day quarantine.

The authorities said the Greek passenger is currently in good health and remains asymptomatic.

The cruise ship, carrying more than 140 passengers and crew, docked earlier on Sunday on the Spanish island of Tenerife after the outbreak of the virus.

Since the vessel departed from Cabo Verde, three passengers have died and five others have tested positive for hantavirus. ■