Twenty British passengers evacuated from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak have arrived at an isolation facility on the Wirral after being repatriated from Tenerife. A chartered Titan Airways flight transported the group from the Canary Islands to Manchester Airport on Sunday evening.
Arrival at Isolation Facility
The passengers, who were tested for hantavirus before boarding, were taken to Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, the UK's initial Covid quarantine site. Emergency services in the North West stated that the passengers would be housed and provided with clothing at the managed setting for up to 72 hours. The facility comprises six storeys of self-contained flats, each with bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms, kitchen, and lounge facilities.
Welfare and Medical Plans
Janelle Holmes, chief executive of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, confirmed that welfare checks would be conducted on each individual. She emphasised that no symptomatic passengers had been transferred and that hospital services were running normally. If passengers develop symptoms, they will be taken to Royal Liverpool University Hospital, which houses the regional Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit. Ms Holmes noted that hantavirus is very different from Covid and presents a low risk to the general public, as close contact is required for transmission.
Isolation and Quarantine Procedures
After the initial isolation period, public health specialists will assess whether passengers can isolate at home or another suitable location. Returning Britons must self-isolate for 45 days and are prohibited from using public transport to reach their homes. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked all involved in coordinating the safe return, highlighting collaboration with Spain, South Africa, the Netherlands, and the WHO.
Evacuation Details
The MV Hondius arrived in Tenerife on Sunday morning, with Spanish authorities evacuating passengers by nationality and transporting them to shore via small boats. Some British passengers, wearing blue protective gear, waved as they passed media during the bus journey from the port to Tenerife South Airport. The WHO aims to complete the ship's evacuation, except for 30 crew members, by Monday evening. Passengers were instructed to leave luggage on the ship and only carry essentials like phones and passports.
International Repatriation Efforts
The Spanish health ministry reported that 94 people of 19 nationalities had been taken off the cruise ship. One of five French passengers showed symptoms during their repatriation flight, as confirmed by French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who stated that all five were placed in strict isolation for medical care and further testing. The 30 crew members, a Dutch nurse, and the body of a deceased passenger will remain on the ship, which will sail to Rotterdam for disinfection.
Hantavirus Cases and Response
The WHO reported six confirmed hantavirus cases linked to MV Hondius, with four patients hospitalised. Eight cases, including three deaths, have been reported, with one previous suspected case reclassified after testing negative. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed that three British nationals are among the eight cases: two with confirmed hantavirus in hospitals in South Africa and the Netherlands, and one suspected case on Tristan da Cunha. Six paratroopers, an RAF consultant, and an Army nurse from 16 Air Assault Brigade were parachuted onto the South Atlantic island to provide medical support, marking the first time medical personnel have been airdropped for humanitarian aid in the territory.
