British nationals evacuated from a cruise ship affected by the dangerous rat-borne hantavirus have begun a 45-day isolation period in the UK, health authorities confirmed.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, 20 British passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship, along with a German national living in the UK and a Japanese passenger repatriated at the request of the Japanese government, are currently being monitored at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, north-west England.
Officials said the passengers will undergo clinical assessments and testing within the next 72 hours. Infectious disease experts will then decide where they can safely complete the remainder of their isolation period.
UK Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said none of the passengers are showing symptoms at present, but they will remain under close observation as a precautionary measure.
“With no confirmed cases or symptoms among them and strict monitoring measures in place, the risk to the public remains extremely low,” she stated.
