UK nationals on hantavirus-hit cruise ship to isolate in hospital on return

​British passengers and staff on ‌the cruise ​ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak will be taken to a hospital in northwest ‌England for an initial isolation period once they are repatriated, UK health authorities said on Saturday.

The ship, the MV Hondius, is expected to anchor off ‌the Spanish island of Tenerife early on Sunday, following which the 22 ‌British nationals on board will be flown back to Britain. Spain had said earlier that the UK, as well as Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland and other countries ⁠had ​confirmed they were sending ⁠planes to evacuate their citizens after the outbreak which left eight people ill, ⁠including three who died.

As a precautionary measure, the passengers will be assessed and ​tested during an initial stay of up to 72 hours ⁠at a managed setting, a joint statement from health departments in the north west of ⁠England, ​police and a local council said. Sky News named the facility as the Arrowe Park Hospital near Liverpool. "The risk to ⁠the general population remains very low," the statement added.

The UK Health Security Agency ⁠had said ⁠on Friday that all passengers and crew will be asked to isolate for 45 days on their return ‌home.

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