Vessel struck by Hantavirus outbreak docks in Manchester

On Sunday, a flight carrying 20 UK citizens who were passengers on the MV Hondius, a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak, touched down in Manchester, northwest England, as captured by television footage.

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The flight originated from Tenerife, where the MV Hondius is currently docked, and arrived at the city's airport, marking the beginning of the next steps for the British nationals on board.

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The 20 UK citizens will undergo tests and be quarantined for up to 72 hours at a hospital near Liverpool, also located in northwest England, as a precautionary measure.

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According to the Spanish government, a total of 22 British nationals were evacuated from the MV Hondius, with 20 of them arriving on the special flight, as reported by Britain's Press Association news agency.

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The remaining two individuals are scheduled to travel to a different destination, although the British authorities have not confirmed these details as of yet.

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Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper took to X to express her gratitude, stating: "Thank you to all those who worked around the clock to get passengers from MV Hondius back to the UK by special flight this evening with public health protections in place."

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A National Health Service spokesman announced on Saturday that the new arrivals would be subjected to medical tests upon their arrival at Arrowe Park Hospital in northwestern Wirral.

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The group is expected to stay at the hospital for an initial period of 72 hours, after which arrangements for their further isolation will be assessed.

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Since the outbreak began, three passengers from the ship - a Dutch husband and wife, as well as a German woman - have lost their lives to the disease.

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Others have fallen ill with the rare disease, which is typically spread among rodents, prompting concern and action from health authorities.

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The World Health Organization confirmed six cases out of eight suspected ones on Friday, providing an update on the situation.