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Ten people from remote islands to come to UK to isolate

The group is believed to include residents of the UK overseas territories of St Helena and Ascension Island

[A coach arrives at Arrowe Park Hospital containing passengers quarantining after disembarking from hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius]

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A coach arrives at Arrowe Park Hospital containing passengers quarantining after disembarking from hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Ten British people linked to the hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius are being brought to the UK in case they develop the illness, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.

The group is believed to include residents of the UK overseas territories of St Helena and Ascension Island, as well as medical staff who came into contact with passengers after some left the ship. UKHSA said the move is intended to ensure those involved have access to specialist NHS services if they become ill, although none are currently showing symptoms.

It is not been confirmed whether the new arrivals will be taken to Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral.

At the same time, 20 British nationals from the ship, along with a German UK resident and a Japanese passenger, are preparing to leave Arrowe Park after completing an initial three-day assessment period.

They will continue self isolating for a further 42 days, with many expected to do so at home under daily monitoring from health protection teams.

Two Britons who had earlier returned to the UK independently are also continuing their isolation at Arrowe Park after contacting officials about possible exposure to the virus. Neither has developed symptoms.

UKHSA chief scientific officer Professor Robin May thanked passengers for their cooperation during what he described as a distressing period, saying the agencys priority remained keeping everyone safe and supported throughout isolation.

The outbreak has so far resulted in 11 reported hantavirus cases linked to the cruise, including three deaths. Nine cases have been confirmed, with two more considered probable.

One British patient is recovering in Johannesburg, another is being treated in the Netherlands, and a third is isolating on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha.

World Health Organisation director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus defended Spains decision to allow the ship to dock in Tenerife, rejecting suggestions passengers should have remained onboard for the full quarantine period.

He said some passengers had been close to mental breakdown after weeks at sea and described leaving them on the vessel as inhumane.

Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, for showing "solidarity, compassion and kindness" towards passengers and crew.

At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak, Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the briefing, adding:

And given the long incubation period of the virus, its possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.

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