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This footage shows the moment tons of of health personnel descended upon the hantavirus-ridden MV Hondius cruise ship.
The footage was obtained from the Spanish Civil Guard on May 10, filmed within the town of Granadilla de Abona, on Tenerife.
The video shows coaches arriving on the port while personnel wearing hazmat gear are seen working the scene.
Police vehicles, helicopters and maritime units also took part within the operation across the harbour.
The Spanish Civil Guard said in an announcement: ‘The Civil Guard has participated within the transfer of the occupants of the MV HONDIUS from the port of Granadilla de Abona to Tenerife South Airport.
‘The operation has involved greater than 300 personnel, including air resources, several vessels from the maritime service, NRBQ [Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical] specialists, GRS [Civil Guard Reserve and Security Group], and citizen security units.’
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The cruise ship MV Hondius had been affected by a hantavirus outbreak before arriving in Tenerife.
British passengers were amongst those evacuated from the vessel. They’ve since been taken to a UK hospital.
Hantaviruses are potentially fatal and are carried by rodents. They will spread to humans through contact with infected animals or their droppings, in keeping with health authorities.
British passengers on the cruise were flown into Manchester Airport on a chartered flight from Tenerife after the HV Hondius docked yesterday morning.
They were photographed arriving by coach at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral, with the motive force seen wearing a face mask and a transparent face shield.
The 20 passengers, together with one German national, who’s a UK resident, and one Japanese passenger, have tested negative for hantavirus.
They’ll now isolate for 72 hours in a dedicated accommodation block to find out in the event that they can complete a 45-day isolation at home.
Janelle Holmes, CEO of Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust, said the passengers will have the option to phone their family and friends.
She told the BBC: ‘What we’ve learnt from past experience is that they’re going to be absolutely shattered.
‘They’ve probably felt quite traumatised by the entire experience, so the thing for us to do is to ensure that they’re here, they’re secure, they’re welcome.’
The Ministry of Defence says that the danger to the general public stays very low.
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