Passengers from MV Hondius Begin Isolation at Arrowe Park Hospital
Passengers evacuated from the **MV Hondius** cruise ship, struck by a hantavirus outbreak, have entered a strict isolation facility following their repatriation from Tenerife. A chartered **Titan Airways** flight delivered the initial group of passengers to **Manchester Airport** Sunday evening, marking the beginning of their monitored quarantine.
Spain’s health minister confirmed that evacuations will continue through Monday, with additional flights arriving from Australia and the Netherlands. Passengers of various nationalities are being brought home via coordinated international repatriation efforts.
Arrowe Park Hospital Hosts Quarantined Passengers
The UK is utilizing its former Covid quarantine site at **Arrowe Park Hospital** in **Wirral, Merseyside**, to accommodate 20 British nationals who underwent hantavirus testing before departure. The isolation facility also houses one German national residing in the UK and one Japanese passenger, who was transferred at Tokyo’s request.
The Japanese individual will complete their isolation under the guidance of the **UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)**, adhering to the agency’s stringent protocols.
International Evacuations Continue
Two additional flights are scheduled: one from Australia carrying six passengers, and another from the Netherlands transporting 18 passengers. Both flights will also accommodate evacuees from nations without their own repatriation flights, according to officials.
Hantavirus Cases and Fatalities Update
The **World Health Organization’s** latest tally reported eight illnesses linked to the outbreak, six of which have been confirmed as hantavirus infections. Tragically, three fatalities include a Dutch couple and a German national.
The **US Department of Health and Human Services** disclosed that among the 17 Americans being repatriated, one tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus, while another exhibited mild symptoms. Meanwhile, the French health minister confirmed a French passenger tested positive and is experiencing worsening health. It remains uncertain if these cases are part of the six confirmed by WHO.
Strict Infection Control Measures in Place
During their journey back to the UK, all passengers, crew, drivers, and medical personnel wore personal protective equipment, including face masks, to minimize transmission risk.
Upon arrival, passengers undergo clinical assessments and testing within 72 hours in self-contained flats spread across six floors. Each unit features private bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms, kitchens, and lounges, ensuring comfort and safety during isolation.
Arrowe Park Hospital’s Role and Public Safety
**Janelle Holmes**, Chief Executive of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, assured the public that no symptomatic individuals have been transferred. She emphasized that hospital services continue uninterrupted and encouraged patients to attend scheduled appointments.
Holmes explained that should any passenger develop symptoms, they will be moved to **Royal Liverpool University Hospital**, home to the regional tropical and infectious diseases unit.
Highlighting the distinct nature of hantavirus compared to Covid-19, Holmes stated: “The risk to the general public is really low. Transmission requires very close contact. It’s not like Covid or flu or those types of viruses.”
Isolation Protocols and Ongoing Monitoring
Public health specialists will evaluate passengers’ living arrangements during isolation to determine if home quarantine is feasible.
Returnees must self-isolate for 45 days and are prohibited from using public transport to reach their residences. Throughout isolation, daily check-ins by **UKHSA health protection teams** will ensure wellbeing and compliance with safety measures.
**Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson** reinforced the message: “None of the passengers are symptomatic, but we will monitor them closely over the next 72 hours at the hospital, as part of a precautionary isolation period. With no cases or symptoms among them and both our stringent monitoring and isolation measures, the risk to the public remains extremely low.”
