A map of countries with suspected hantavirus cases has revealed that the virus has spread to 13 nations across four continents following the departure of the MV Hondius cruise ship from Argentina. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that two British nationals have contracted hantavirus, with an additional suspected case of a British national on Tristan da Cunha.
Current Situation
The patient on Tristan da Cunha remains on the remote South Atlantic island, while the other two British nationals are hospitalised in the Netherlands and South Africa. A total of 29 people left the MV Hondius when it docked in St Helena on April 24, including seven Britons. Among them, a Dutch woman became unwell during onward travel and subsequently died. In total, three deaths have been linked to the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship.
The UKHSA has stated that none of the British citizens currently on board the ship, which is now travelling to Tenerife, are reporting symptoms, but they remain under close monitoring. Health authorities first confirmed hantavirus in a passenger on May 2, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Global Response
Authorities in countries including South Africa, Singapore, and the Netherlands are now tracking down passengers who were on the vessel. The Dutch couple who represented the first two cases had travelled through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay before boarding the ship, as per the WHO. The UKHSA has indicated that the ship is expected to dock in Tenerife on Sunday, with UK Government staff ready to support British nationals disembarking.
British passengers and crew not displaying symptoms will be escorted to an airport and given free passage back to the UK. A dedicated repatriation flight is being organised. The WHO has assessed the risk to the general public as low, as hantavirus is typically contracted through inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings and does not spread easily between humans.
Affected Countries
The full list of countries hit by the hantavirus outbreak includes: Argentina, South Africa, Cape Verde, Singapore, Philippines, United States, Spain, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.
Quarantine Measures
All British passengers and crew from the ship are required to isolate for 45 days upon returning to the UK, with close monitoring by UKHSA officials. Follow-up is already underway for individuals who may have had contact with cases and have since returned to the UK or are in UK Overseas Territories. Two Britons are currently self-isolating at home in the UK after leaving the ship and flying back via Johannesburg. Four Britons remain on the South Atlantic remote islands, and a seventh individual has been traced outside the UK. In total, 19 British nationals were listed as passengers on the MV Hondius, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde, with four British crew members.
