Two British nationals who left the MV Hondius cruise ship before a deadly hantavirus outbreak was detected have returned to the UK and are self-isolating at home, health officials have confirmed. Neither is reporting symptoms, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
A British crew member was medically evacuated from the ship and flown to the Netherlands for specialist care. The Foreign Office is arranging a charter flight for remaining Britons on board who are not displaying symptoms, allowing repatriation once the ship docks in Tenerife in the coming days.
Three people on the MV Hondius have died since 11 April, with eight suspected cases of hantavirus, three confirmed by lab testing, according to the World Health Organization. The outbreak has been linked to a birdwatching expedition in Argentina joined by two passengers before boarding.
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.”
Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at UKHSA, suggested returning Britons would be asked to self-isolate for 45 days. Nineteen British nationals were among 150 passengers on the cruise, which sailed from Argentina to Cape Verde, with four British crew members.
Spain’s health minister confirmed no passengers still on board are showing symptoms. The 14 Spanish nationals will be flown to a hospital in Madrid to quarantine. South African officials earlier reported a British man in critical condition with the virus in Johannesburg.
