A group of 22 British nationals from the MV Hondius is arriving in the UK today, Sunday, May 10, 2026, following a fatal hantavirus outbreak on board. Upon arrival, they will be transported to a specialist isolation unit at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral for clinical monitoring.
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- Arrival & Testing: Passengers arriving in Tenerife this morning will undergo rigorous health screenings. Those cleared for travel will fly to Merseyside via a chartered flight.
- The Facility: The group will be housed in an accommodation block at Arrowe Parkāthe same site utilized for the UK’s initial quarantine measures in 2020.
- Duration of Stay: Individuals will remain at the hospital for up to 72 hours for assessment. Following this, public health officials will decide if they can transition to home isolation.
- Extended Isolation: To account for the hantavirus incubation period, a total isolation window of 42 to 45 days is being enforced from the date of last exposure.
Context of the Outbreak
The illness has been identified as the Andes strain of hantavirus, which is unique for its potential for human-to-human transmission. The infection is believed to have originated during a shore excursion in Argentina.
While three fatalities have been reported on the vessel, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) maintains that the risk to the British public is minimal. Currently, three other British nationals remain hospitalized in the Netherlands, South Africa, and Tristan da Cunha.
