British Passengers on 'Rat-Virus' Cruise Ship End Quarantine After 42 Days Twenty British passengers and crew repatriated from the MV Hondius, an Antarctic expedition cruise ship linked to a Hantavirus outbreak, were released from self-isolation on Monday after completing 42 days of quarantine. The group, which had disembarked the vessel in the Canary Islands on May 10, 2026, was medically evacuated to Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside for an initial 72-hour monitoring period before returning home to complete six weeks of isolation. None of the passengers developed Hantavirus, which has an incubation period of up to six weeks, allowing them to resume normal activities. The outbreak, which began in early April, originated when a Dutch couple contracted the rare Andes strain of Hantavirus during a birdwatching trip in South America. They boarded the MV Hondius in Argentina, where the virus spread to three other passengers, including a British doctor, who were treated in intensive care. The Andes strain, which can spread through contact with infected rodent droppings or respiratory droplets, led to the deaths of the Dutch couple and a German tourist. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the NHS conducted regular testing and daily check-ins with the passengers during their isolation. Groceries were delivered safely, and outdoor exercise was permitted to mitigate the psychological impact of confinement. The isolation measures were described as "voluntary" but were fully complied with by all passengers. The outbreak’s global impact extended beyond the UK. A total of 13 people were infected with the Andes strain while aboard the MV Hondius, including a British man who traveled to Tristan da Cunha, the most remote inhabited island in the world.#uk_health_security_agency #ukhsa #mv_hondius #tristan_da_cunha #arrowe_park_hospital
