Japan's Foreign Ministry says a Japanese national who had left the cruise ship hit by a suspected hantavirus outbreak arrived in Britain on Sunday local time.
The ministry said on Monday that the person was offered a spare seat on a chartered flight arranged by the British government after disembarking at a Spanish island.
It said it understands that the individual is "in good health" and will undergo health monitoring by local authorities for up to 45 days in Britain as recommended by the World Health Organization.
Japan signed a memorandum with Britain in April on mutual assistance in evacuating their nationals in the event of a crisis in a third country.
The ministry said the memorandum was the basis for the flight offered to the individual.
It said Japan will continue to respond in coordination with British authorities on the protection of Japanese nationals and efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.
The ship's passengers and crew members began disembarking on Sunday after arriving at Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
The ship's operator said that as of Friday, about 150 passengers and crew members were on board, 22 of them British nationals.
Kihara: No major, immediate impact on Japan from hantavirus
Japan's top government spokesperson says the hantavirus that has hit a cruise ship in the Atlantic will have no major, immediate impact on the country.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru made the remark at a news conference on Monday after a Japanese national who had left the ship was reported to have arrived in Britain.
Kihara said the person has no health issues, but will be monitored by local health authorities for up to 45 days. He said Japanese officials are providing support in cooperation with the foreign governments concerned.
Kihara said it is believed that the spread of the virus can be prevented by properly managing infected people and those who have come in contact with them.
He said the type of rodent that may transmit the virus does not exist in Japan, and that no hantavirus cases have been confirmed in the country.
Kihara added that the health ministry has issued instructions to quarantine authorities regarding arrivals from South America.
He said those arrivals with health issues should be asked about any contact with rodents, and be advised as necessary to seek medical attention.
One French passenger from cruise ship tests positive for hantavirus
French Health Minister Stephanie Rist says a French guest of the cruise ship affected by the hantavirus has tested positive for the virus.
Rist spoke in an interview with a local radio station on Monday.
She said the person developed symptoms while flying home after getting off the ship, and that later her condition worsened. The minister added that the patient is in isolation at a specialized infectious disease hospital in France.
Rist said the four other French passengers of the ship tested negative but they are also in isolation and will receive further tests.
She said it is important to respond at an early stage and break the chains of transmission of the virus.