Hantavirus-hit cruise ship evacuation underway as Brits prepare to fly home
Watch: Cruise ship evacuation begins in ‘unprecedented’ operation off Tenerife
The evacuation of the MV Hondius cruise ship has commenced off Tenerife following a hantavirus outbreak, with Spanish health officials describing the situation as unprecedented despite all passengers currently being asymptomatic.
Six of the eight suspected hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius have now been confirmed, though the World Health Organization insists the wider public health threat remains low, acknowledging more cases are possible due to the virus’s incubation period.
Passengers are being repatriated in a phased approach, with Spanish nationals disembarking first for transport to Madrid for hospitalisation and quarantine, followed by groups including Dutch, German, Belgian, Greek, Turkish, French, UK, and US citizens.
The 22 British passengers and crew aboard the vessel will undergo testing on the ship before disembarking and will be flown directly to the UK, where they will be taken to a hospital in Wirral, Merseyside, for clinical assessment and further testing.
Upon arrival in the UK, British passengers will be held for up to 72 hours, after which public health specialists will determine if they can isolate at home or another suitable location for 45 days, with authorities reassuring the public of a very low risk.
