Brits on virus-hit cruise ship to isolate at hospital
British passengers and staff aboard a cruise ship at the centre of a deadly hantavirus outbreak will be brought to a UK hospital to isolate.
Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral, Merseyside, was notably used as the UK's quarantine site at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The MV Hondius is expected to dock in the Canary Islands this weekend, with the remaining 22 Britons on board due to fly home on a charter flight soon after.
Five cases of hantavirus have so far been confirmed, including one of the three passengers who have died during a cruise on the Dutch vessel.
Two British men with confirmed cases of the disease are receiving treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa, while a third Briton is being treated for a suspected case on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where the ship stopped in mid-April.
A joint statement has been issued by NHS England North West, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, Merseyside Police, North West Ambulance Service and Wirral Council.
It read: "In line with advice from the UK Health Security Agency, on arrival they will be taken to a managed setting for clinical assessment and testing.
"We expect this initial stay to be up to 72 hours.
"Following this, public health specialists will assess whether they can isolate at home or at another suitable location, based on their living arrangements.
"The risk to the general population remains very low.
"Our partner organisations are working together to ensure that all returning passengers are welcomed, comfortable and well supported throughout their stay.
"We would like to thank our staff and partners across the NHS, emergency services and local government for their professionalism and dedication in co-ordinating this response, and we will continue to work closely with the UK Health Security Agency and other partners throughout."
The World Health Organization said on Saturday that there were currently no symptomatic passengers on board the ship.