Dozens of passengers and crew, including British nationals, have been evacuated from a cruise ship in Tenerife following a deadly outbreak of hantavirus. The two-day operation began on Sunday, with 22 UK citizens flown to Manchester and transferred to hospital quarantine in Merseyside. None of the British passengers are showing symptoms, according to the NHS trust managing their care.
The MV Hondius arrived in the Canary Islands early Sunday carrying 146 people, after three deaths and eight illnesses linked to the virus. Passengers and crew had been confined to cabins for days to prevent further spread. Spanish passengers, wearing protective gear, were taken off first after screening, followed by flights to ten countries including the Netherlands, Germany, France, and the United States.
France reported one of five repatriated nationals showing symptoms, while the US confirmed one mild case and another testing positive for the Andes strain. The Spanish government and WHO assured that evacuees would not come into contact with the public in Tenerife. Those evacuated face 42 days of isolation from potential exposure, with UK passengers self-isolating for 45 days at home after initial checks.
Authorities scrambled to arrange flights, with winds expected to complicate further evacuations. The Philippines, with the most crew members, confirmed 24 stewards and hotel staff transferred to the Netherlands for quarantine, while 14 essential crew remain to sail the ship to Rotterdam. Officials stressed the virus is serious but not pandemic-level, though WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed concerns at a press conference.
