Twenty British nationals from a cruise ship affected by a deadly hantavirus outbreak remain in isolation at a UK hospital, as the ship's captain commended the "patience and kindness" exhibited by those on board.
The group of 20 Britons from the MV Hondius, along with a German UK resident and a Japanese passenger, were transported to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral on Sunday after the vessel docked in Tenerife. They will stay at the hospital for three days before being allowed to return home to complete a further 42-day isolation period. Those unable to return home will be placed in alternative accommodation for the duration.
Captain's Tribute to Crew and Passengers
Captain Jan Dobrogowski of the MV Hondius expressed his gratitude in a video message, stating: "I've decided to take this time to thank every single guest and crew member on board here, as well as our colleagues back home. The past few weeks have been extremely challenging to us all." He highlighted the patience, discipline, and kindness shown among passengers and crew, adding: "I've witnessed your caring, your unity and quiet strength amongst everybody on board, guests and crew alike, and I must commend my crew for their courage and the selfless resolve they showed time and again in the most difficult moments." He also acknowledged those who lost their lives, saying: "Whatever I say will not ease this loss. I'd like you to know they are with us every day, in our hearts and our thoughts."
French Passenger Tests Positive
Meanwhile, the French government confirmed that a French woman evacuated from the cruise ship has tested positive for hantavirus, and her condition deteriorated overnight in hospital. She was among five French passengers repatriated to France on Sunday and developed symptoms during the flight to Paris, according to French officials.
UK Health Officials Provide Updates
Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that passengers at Arrowe Park will be able to live as normally as possible. "They're being accommodated, if they were travelling in a family group, they're staying in that family group, and they'll be living as normal a life as they can whilst they're in hospital," he said. He added that they will undergo intensive testing, including PCR tests and blood serum analysis for antibodies, to ensure they are virus-free. Professor May noted that each individual's circumstances will be assessed to determine the best place for continued isolation, whether at home or elsewhere. He stressed the importance of emotional support during the lengthy isolation period, stating: "It's going to be a very long period of time. During that period we'll be supporting very closely with ongoing testing, still checking for virus and antibodies, but also, of course, emotionally, because this is clearly not what any of them would have wished."
Transmission Risk Assessed
Professor May explained that the virus appears to spread only through very close contact, such as sharing a cabin with a symptomatic person. The risk from asymptomatic individuals is extremely low, and the risk to the general public is negligible, as transmission is unlikely in casual encounters. He said scientists are working "quite intensely" to understand more about hantavirus.
Government and Health Official Statements
Public health minister Sharon Hodgson thanked all those involved in bringing the British nationals home and praised NHS staff at Arrowe Park Hospital for their dedication. She stated: "None of the passengers are symptomatic but we will monitor them closely over the next 72 hours at the hospital, as part of a precautionary isolation period. With no cases or symptoms among them and our stringent monitoring and isolation measures, the risk to the public remains extremely low."
Broader Impact of the Outbreak
US officials reported on Sunday that an American among 17 individuals being flown to Nebraska from the ship tested positive for hantavirus but remains asymptomatic. Overall, three deaths have been linked to the outbreak. A British man with hantavirus is receiving care in Johannesburg, another is in the Netherlands, and a third British national is isolating on the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha. Over the weekend, six paratroopers, an RAF consultant, and an Army nurse from 16 Air Assault Brigade were parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha to assist in his care.
Strict infection control measures were implemented during the transfer to Arrowe Park, with all personnel wearing personal protective equipment. The hospital site features self-contained flats with bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms, kitchens, and lounge facilities. Janelle Holmes, chief executive of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, confirmed that welfare checks will be conducted on each individual, and any passengers developing symptoms will be transferred to Royal Liverpool University Hospital, which houses the regional Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit.
