UK nationals on hantavirus-hit cruise ship to isolate in hospital on return

LONDON, May 9 (Reuters) - ​British passengers and staff on the cruise ship hit by a ​hantavirus ‌outbreak will be taken to a hospital in northwest England ⁠for an initial isolation period once ⁠they are repatriated, UK ​health authorities said on Saturday.

The ship, the MV Hondius, is expected to anchor off the Spanish island of Tenerife early ​on ‌Sunday, following which the 22 British nationals on board will be flown back to Britain.

Spain had said earlier that the UK, as well as Germany, France, ​Belgium, Ireland and other countries had confirmed they were sending ‌planes to evacuate their citizens after the outbreak which left eight people ill, including ‌three who died.

As a precautionary measure, the passengers will be assessed and tested during an initial stay of ​up to 72 hours at a managed setting, a joint statement from ‌health departments in the north west of England, police and a local council said. Sky News named the facility ⁠as the ⁠Arrowe Park Hospital near Liverpool.

"The ‌risk to the general population remains very low," the statement added.

The UK ​Health Security ​Agency had said on Friday that ‌all passengers and crew will be asked to isolate for 45 days on their return home. (Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Toby Chopra and Philippa Fletcher)