British passengers aboard a cruise ship struck by a deadly hantavirus outbreak will be asked to self-isolate for 45 days upon returning to the UK, a health official has indicated. Two British nationals who left the MV Hondius before the outbreak was detected are already self-isolating at home and are not reporting symptoms, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, has seen three deaths since 11 April, with eight suspected cases of hantavirus, three confirmed by lab testing, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported. A British crew member was medically evacuated to the Netherlands for specialist care. The Foreign Office is arranging a charter flight for remaining Britons on the ship, who are not displaying symptoms, to be repatriated after docking in Tenerife in the coming days.
Dr Meera Chand, deputy director for epidemic and emerging infections at UKHSA, said: “It’s important to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains very low. We are standing up arrangements to support, isolate and monitor British nationals from the ship on their return to the UK.” The outbreak has been linked to a birdwatching expedition in Argentina joined by two passengers before boarding.
Prof Robin May, UKHSA chief scientific officer, told BBC Breakfast that the two Britons who left the cruise earlier had returned to the UK before the outbreak was detected. “There’s a chance they may have been exposed to the virus, so we have been in contact with them. They have agreed very kindly to self-isolate for the next period of time,” he said, adding that other British nationals would likely be asked to self-isolate at home for 45 days.
About 40 passengers disembarked on Saint Helena after the first death, including seven Britons. Spain’s health minister said none of the passengers still onboard were symptomatic and that 14 Spaniards would quarantine in a Madrid hospital. A British man in South Africa is in critical condition with the virus, and a KLM flight attendant with mild symptoms is being tested in Amsterdam.
