Two British nationals who disembarked the MV Hondius cruise ship early are now self-isolating for up to eight weeks after possible exposure to hantavirus, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced. The pair left the vessel at St Helena between 22 and 24 April and have since returned to the UK without showing symptoms. They have been advised to remain in isolation as a precaution.
UKHSA Monitoring and Contact Tracing
The UKHSA is tracing contacts of the two individuals from their journey home and has stressed that the risk to the general public remains very low. Professor Robin May, UKHSA's chief scientific officer, stated: 'We're going to ask everybody who's exposed to self-isolate but we'll be working very closely to support them on that with regular testing and all the support you'd expect us to put in place.' He added that the current cautious scenario involves a potential eight-week isolation period, which may be adjusted based on monitoring.
Repatriation of Remaining British Nationals
Three people, including one British national, with suspected hantavirus have been evacuated from the Hondius to the Netherlands for medical care. The remaining British nationals on board can be repatriated once the ship docks at its next destination, provided they do not develop symptoms. None are currently reporting symptoms, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is making arrangements for their return. UKHSA is coordinating with the government to support their isolation and testing.
WHO Assessment and Background
The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the wider public health risk as low, noting that hantavirus is unlikely to spread from person to person except through prolonged close contact. The source of the outbreak remains unknown, and it is unclear whether infections have spread beyond the ship. The three evacuees include a 41-year-old Dutch crew member, a 65-year-old German national, and the British man, all transferred to the Netherlands for treatment.
Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director for Epidemic and Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said: 'Our thoughts are with all those affected by the hantavirus outbreak onboard the MV Hondius. 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 and we are contact tracing anyone who may have been in contact with the ship or the hantavirus cases to limit the risk of onward transmission.'
