Hantavirus Testing Under Way for UK Passengers from Cruise Ship

Clinical assessments and testing of passengers who were on board the MV Hondius are well under way at a Merseyside hospital after they were evacuated from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship, health officials have said. The passengers, which include 20 British nationals, a German national who is a UK resident and a Japanese passenger, are more than 24 hours into a 72-hour isolation period at Arrowe Park Hospital.

Officials said the evacuees were healthy and asymptomatic. Once discharged, they will be asked to self-isolate for up to 45 days. Three people have died following the outbreak on the cruise ship, two of whom were confirmed to have the virus. They include an elderly Dutch man, who died before he could be tested, and his wife, who died after disembarking.

A German woman also died on board the ship.

Ghebreyesus said work to contain hantavirus after the cruise ship outbreak was not over. He said there is no sign that a larger outbreak is starting but added that, given the long incubation period of the virus, it is possible more cases might be seen in the coming weeks.

During a press briefing, he said some of the passengers were facing mental breakdown after being on board the ship for weeks in what must have been a very frightening situation. The WHO's view was that to keep people on board the ship during the quarantine period would have been inhumane and unnecessary.

Eighty-seven passengers of the Dutch MV Hondius, which was docked in Spain's Canary Islands, have been repatriated over the past few days, the ship's operator Oceanwide Expeditions said. The group isolating at Arrowe Park were flown to Manchester from Tenerife on Sunday.

An initial 72-hour hospital isolation period is due to end on Wednesday. Public health and infectious disease specialists will assess whether the individuals are then able to self-isolate at home for up to 45 days, or whether another location should be arranged.