Cruise Ship Britons Face Isolation
British nationals from a hantavirus-affected cruise ship will be isolated in a UK hospital upon their return for testing and monitoring.
Ayla Demirhan ·
British passengers and staff from the MV Hondius cruise ship, affected by a hantavirus outbreak, will undergo an initial isolation period in a hospital in northwest England upon repatriation. On Saturday, May 9, 2026, UK health authorities confirmed that the 22 British nationals on board would be flown back to Britain asourceser the ship anchors off Tenerife, Spain, early Sunday.
The repatriation follows an outbreak that resulted in eight illnesses and three fatalities. Spain previously indicated that the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, and other nations were dispatching aircrasources to evacuate their citizens. The UK Health Security Agency had advised all passengers and crew to isolate for 45 days upon their return.
As a precautionary measure, the repatriated individuals will be assessed and tested for up to 72 hours at a managed facility, identified by Sky News as Arrowe Park Hospital near Liverpool. A joint statement from health departments in northwest England, police, and a local council affirmed that the risk to the general population remains very low.