Ten British nationals linked to the rat-borne hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship will be repatriated to the United Kingdom to complete their self-isolation, health authorities have confirmed. This development comes as 20 British passengers from the same vessel, who have been quarantined at the former COVID-19 facility Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral, prepare to depart.
New Group to Isolate in the UK
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) stated that a new cohort, believed to include residents of the British Overseas Territories of St Helena and Ascension Island, will be transferred to the UK. This move is described as a precautionary measure to ensure access to appropriate medical services if needed. All individuals involved are British, encompassing both passengers who disembarked in St Helena and medical staff who had contact with them.
The UKHSA explained: 'This relocation involves some contacts who are already isolating, to places where they can safely self-isolate with access to appropriate specialist medical services. This is because England's NHS high consequence infectious disease network is well equipped to respond if they become unwell.' Currently, none of these contacts exhibit symptoms, and the transfer is purely precautionary to support communities in UK overseas territories. Further details on isolation locations will be announced in due course.
Previous Quarantine and Extended Isolation
Twenty-two Britons were initially taken to Arrowe Park Hospital on Sunday evening after the ship docked in Tenerife, undergoing a three-day assessment period. They will now isolate for an additional 42 days. Health officials are relying on voluntary compliance, though enforcement measures could be implemented if passengers refuse to cooperate and public health is deemed at risk.
Local residents on the Wirral have expressed concerns about why those onboard were not kept at sea. The MV Hondius had been stranded off the west African coast near Cape Verde after being turned away due to the hantavirus outbreak. In scenes reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic, passengers were transported to the same facility used for the first Britons evacuated from Wuhan six years ago.
Earlier Cases and Medical Response
Previously, two Britons who returned early from the ship have been isolating at home after contacting officials upon learning of the outbreak. Neither has developed symptoms, but they will move to Arrowe Park to continue isolation. Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at UKHSA, expressed gratitude for passenger cooperation, stating: 'We are grateful to the passengers for their cooperation and patience in what we appreciate has been a very unsettling period for all involved.' He emphasised that the priority is ensuring everyone is safe and supported, and urged respect for privacy.
The Ascension Island Government confirmed that a 'small number of individuals currently on St Helena who travelled on the vessel have been assessed as higher risk.' While the likelihood of illness remains low, UKHSA advised pre-emptive relocation to the UK for self-isolation, with full support upon arrival.
Global Situation and WHO Response
One British man with hantavirus remains in care in Johannesburg and is reportedly improving, while another is in the Netherlands. A third British national is isolating on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha. World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the situation, noting that some passengers faced mental breakdowns. He described leaving people on the ship for the full quarantine period as 'inhumane' and unnecessary, praising Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for allowing the ship to dock in Tenerife.
So far, 11 hantavirus cases have been reported among passengers, including three deaths. Nine cases are confirmed, with two probable. Dr Tedros stated there is no sign of a larger outbreak, but due to the virus's long incubation period, more cases may emerge in coming weeks. The ship's captain thanked passengers and crew for their patience and discipline during the challenging period. A French woman with hantavirus is in intensive care in Paris, while one of 18 evacuated passengers flown to the US tested positive without symptoms. Spain's health ministry reported a provisional positive case in Madrid.
