Three people with suspected hantavirus have been medically evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius, including a British expedition guide and a Dutch ship's doctor. The British national, Martin Anstee, 56, told Sky News he was feeling OK but remained in isolation at a hospital.
The evacuation also included a 41-year-old Dutch doctor and a 65-year-old German passenger. They were taken from the Dutch-flagged vessel for onward travel to the Netherlands, coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Spanish health officials said the Briton's condition had stabilised after being critical.
The ship, carrying nearly 150 people, is now heading to the Canary Islands after Spanish authorities granted permission to dock. However, a dispute has arisen as the regional president of Tenerife expressed concerns about the docking. The evacuation allowed the vessel to resume its three-day journey.
The WHO reported eight cases, five confirmed. Two people who returned to the UK independently from the ship have been advised to self-isolate, though they remain asymptomatic. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is tracing potential contacts and said the risk to the general public is very low.
Three people linked to the outbreak have died: a Dutch couple and a German national. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK is working with other countries to facilitate evacuations and ensure British nationals can safely return. Swiss authorities also confirmed a former passenger who tested positive is being treated in Zurich, with no public risk.
