British health officials announced Saturday that passengers and crew members from the United Kingdom aboard a cruise ship struck by a deadly hantavirus outbreak will be placed in hospital isolation upon their return home.
Twenty-two British citizens are currently on the MV Hondius, which is scheduled to dock near the Spanish island of Tenerife early Sunday morning before the passengers are transported back to Britain by aircraft.
The hantavirus outbreak aboard the vessel has sickened eight individuals, with three fatalities reported. Spanish authorities indicated that multiple nations including the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, and Ireland have arranged evacuation flights to retrieve their citizens from the affected cruise ship.
Upon arrival, British passengers will undergo medical evaluation and testing during a precautionary isolation period lasting up to three days at a supervised medical facility, according to a collaborative announcement from northwestern England health departments, law enforcement, and local government officials. Sky News identified the location as Arrowe Park Hospital in the Liverpool area.
“The risk to the general population remains very low,” officials stated in their joint announcement.
The UK Health Security Agency announced Friday that returning passengers and crew members will be required to remain in isolation for 45 days following their homecoming.
