UK passengers from hantavirus-affected cruise ship to be flown home for hospital quarantine

A cruise ship outbreak of hantavirus that has killed three people has prompted an international evacuation. The MV Hondius, which spent days unable to dock in Cape Verde due to outbreak fears, is anchoring off Tenerife for passenger screening and repatriation. UK authorities have arranged for 19 British passengers and 3 crew members to be flown to Arrowe Park hospital in Merseyside for mandatory 42-day quarantine starting Sunday. All 146 passengers will undergo screening in Tenerife before transfer to their respective countries. The WHO director general personally reassured Spain that hantavirus poses a low public health risk, distinguishing it from COVID-19, but the outbreak has triggered significant concern among port workers and local officials.