Six from hantavirus cruise ship leave Arrowe Park hospital to isolate at home

Six people who were on the cruise ship linked to an outbreak of hantavirus have left Arrowe Park hospital in Wirral to isolate at home, health officials have said.Passengers from the MV Hondius were taken to the Merseyside facility for checks by specialists.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said public health and clinical specialists have assessed each person’s circumstances, and after their latest negative test they are being allowed to continue their 45-day isolation at home.It said there are “appropriate public health protections in place at every stage of the journey” for those leaving the facility.Health protection teams across the UK will continue to monitor and support everyone after they leave the hospital through daily contact, it added.The MV Hondius arrived off the coast of Tenerife over the weekend. Photograph: Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesThe UKHSA said all those at Arrowe Park “remain asymptomatic”.The agency praised the “incredible demonstration of international efforts to contain the outbreak”.The UKHSA said a medic on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic has developed symptoms but has tested negative.Further tests are being carried out to “establish whether this is an unrelated illness”.On Tuesday, it was announced that 10 Britons from South Atlantic islands connected to the cruise ship outbreak are to be brought to the UK in case they develop the illness.The group, thought to be residents of the British overseas territories of St Helena and Ascension, are being “brought to the UK to complete their self-isolation as a precautionary measure”, the UKHSA said.Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at the UKHSA, said: “Our teams are working closely with FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) colleagues and leaders on Ascension Island to repatriate British nationals who are currently isolating on the island.“Testing is under way to confirm the cause of illness for the person displaying symptoms and we will take all necessary action to support this person and the wider island population whilst continuing to protect public health in England and UK overseas territories.“Once again I must commend those who have cooperated so selflessly with the isolation arrangements at Arrowe Park, and we are pleased that they will now begin to return home to isolate after a very unsettling period for all involved.“Thanks also to the NHS and UKHSA colleagues caring for them throughout their time there.“Together this has been an incredible demonstration of international efforts to contain the outbreak.“Our priority remains to ensure everyone is safe and well supported, wherever they complete their isolation, and our teams will continue to work closely with all of those affected by this outbreak.”So far, 11 hantavirus cases have been reported among people on the cruise, including three deaths.Nine of the 11 cases are confirmed, with two more probable cases.