TENERIFE/MADRID, May 9 (Reuters) - Countries prepared to evacuate their citizens from the luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly strain of hantavirus that is due to anchor near Tenerife early on Sunday, as health authorities said the risk of the virus spreading was low.

The cruise ship at the center of a hantavirus outbreak arrived in Spain on Sunday, and officials started the process of moving groups of passengers back to their home countries to begin quarantining.

Three passengers have died after travelling on the ship, two of whom were confirmed to have had the virus.