Hantavirus outbreak: UK to isolate cruise ship passengers in ex-Covid hospital

There are around 24 British passengers and crew, as well as two people from Ireland, on board the MV Hondius

UK health authorities are gearing up to receive about 24 people from a virus-hit cruise ship, who will be isolated in a hospital once used for Covid-19 patients, NHS officials said Saturday.

They are currently on board the Dutch ship, the MV Hondius, due to anchor off Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday.

Most of the nearly 150 people on board will be evacuated and flown home to their home countries after weeks at sea, in a carefully prepared repatriation effort.

Among them are about 24 British passengers and crew, as well as two people from Ireland.

None are currently showing any symptoms of hantavirus.

“In line with advice from the UK Health Security Agency, on arrival they will be taken to a managed setting for clinical assessment and testing,” NHS England North West and NHS Cheshire said.