Passengers from Hantavirus cruise ship enter isolation facility in Wirral

"Passengers evacuated to the UK from a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak are spending their first day at an isolation facility after being repatriated from Tenerife. A chartered Titan Airways flight transported the MV Hondius passengers from the Canary Islands to Manchester airport on Sunday evening. The evacuation of passengers of all nationalities will be completed on Monday, with flights arriving from Australia and the Netherlands, Spain's health minister has said."

"The UK's initial Covid quarantine site at Arrowe Park hospital in Wirral, Merseyside, is being used to house 20 British passengers who were tested for hantavirus before boarding the flight. One German national, who is a UK resident, and one Japanese passenger are also being monitored there. The Japanese passenger, whom the UK government took at Tokyo's request, will complete their isolation in line with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance."

"Eight people no longer on the ship have fallen ill, according to a World Health Organization tally from Friday, of whom six are confirmed to have contracted the virus. Three people have died a Dutch couple and a German national. On Sunday, the US Department of Health and Human Services said one of the 17 Americans being repatriated had tested positive for the Andes strain of the virus while a second had mild symptoms."

"For those on the journey back to the UK, strict infection control measures were in place, with passengers, crew, drivers and medical teams all wearing personal protective equi"

Passengers evacuated from the MV Hondius after a hantavirus outbreak are spending their first day at an isolation facility in the UK following repatriation from Tenerife. A chartered Titan Airways flight brought passengers to Manchester airport, and evacuation of all nationalities is planned to finish on Monday with additional flights arriving from Australia and the Netherlands. The UK is using Arrowe Park hospital in Wirral, Merseyside, to house tested British passengers, with additional monitoring for a German resident and a Japanese passenger under UKHSA guidance. WHO reporting indicates eight people no longer on the ship have fallen ill, with six confirmed infections and three deaths. Additional repatriation cases include positive and symptomatic tests among Americans and a French passenger with worsening health.

Read at www.theguardian.com