Hantavirus latest: Cruise ship approaches dock in Tenerife as UK sends plane to evacuate passengers – UK Times

All passengers on the cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak are considered high-risk contacts as a precautionary measure, Europe’s public health agency said ahead of the ship’s expected anchoring on Sunday off the Spanish island of Tenerife.

Passengers without symptoms will be repatriated for self-quarantine via specially arranged transport, not regular commercial flights, ⁠by their respective ​countries, the ⁠European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said on Saturday as part of its ⁠rapid scientific advice.

The agency urged symptomatic passengers to be prioritised for medical assessment and testing on arrival, adding they may isolate in Tenerife or be medically evacuated home, depending on their condition.

Residents of Tenerife have shared concerns about the MV Hondius docking at the port even as health bodies across the world have sought to reassure residents of the Spanish island that the virus was “not another Covid”.

“I tell you, I don’t like this very much,” said 69-year-old resident Simon Vidal. “Anyone can say what they want. Why did they have to bring a boat from another country here? Why not anywhere else, why bring it to the Canary Islands?”

“The truth is that it is very worrying,” said 27-year-old Venezuelan immigrant Samantha Aguero. She added: “We feel a bit unsafe, we don’t feel as there are 100 per cent security measures in place to welcome it. This is a virus after all and we have lived this during the pandemic. But we also need to have empathy.”

Spanish authorities are preparing the port area in Tenerife to receive passengers from the cruise ship hit with a hantavirus outbreak.

The passengers will then be repatriated to the US, UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands.

“To assist those European Union countries that do not have air transport resources available, the European Civil Protection Mechanism has made two aircraft available, and the necessary flights for the transfer will be scheduled throughout the course of today, Saturday,” Spanish home minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said yesterday.

He said the disembarkation will be carried out in groups based on nationality.

“Only when the aircraft bound for a specific country is on the runway, ready to fly to that country, will nationals of that country be disembarked and taken there, using transport provided by the Spanish army,” the minister added.

British passengers and crew arriving from the hantavirus-struck cruise ship will be taken to a hospital in Wirral, Merseyside, for “clinical assessment and testing, health chiefs have confirmed.

They will be held for 72 hours, after which specialists will decide whether they can isolate at home for 45 days or another suitable location.

A joint statement from NHS England North West, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, Merseyside Police, North West Ambulance Service, and Wirral Council added: “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.”

There are currently 22 British citizens – 19 passengers and three crew members – still aboard the vessel, which is expected to dock at Tenerife in the Canary Islands early tomorrow morning.

None of the passengers on the ship are showing symptoms of the virus, the chief of the World Health Organisation said earlier.

It’s as if, since Covid, we’ve all been on a collective red alert for the next big disease. We saw similar fears bubble up earlier this year during the meningitis outbreak in Kent, when pharmacies reported that they were running out of stock of the meningitis vaccine due to high demand.

Katie Rosseinsky reflects on whether we should all start stocking up on toilet roll:

• Fever
• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Shortness of breath
• Symptoms usually appear between 2 to 4 weeks after being exposed to the virus, but there are reports of symptoms occurring up to 40 days after exposure.

There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus infections.

Treatment is supportive and based on symptoms, such as hospital care and respiratory support for breathing difficulties.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Saturday that the risk to the general public “remains very low”.

Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at UKHSA, said: “We continue to work at pace with our international partners to ensure the safe repatriation of British nationals from the MV Hondius.

“The safety and wellbeing of those on board remains our number one priority. Established infection control measures will be in place at every step of the journey, and passengers will receive full support throughout, including during their period of isolation.”

President Donald Trump said the hantavirus outbreak was “under very good control” in comments as the MV Hondius was preparing to dock in Tenerife: