A British national who was receiving treatment for hantavirus in the Netherlands has been medically evacuated back to the UK, health officials confirmed. The individual is now following strict infection prevention and control measures, according to the Health Security Agency (HSA).
The case was previously identified by the World Health Organisation on 7 May and is linked to an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. At least 11 passengers have reported cases, including three fatalities. British crew member Martin Anstee, 56, an expedition guide and former police officer, was among those evacuated from the ship and flown to the Netherlands for specialist care.
Dr Meera Chand, deputy director at UKHSA, said: “We have worked closely with FCDO and the Dutch authorities to ensure the safe return of a British national who was previously confirmed to have hantavirus and has been receiving care in the Netherlands. It’s important to stress that this is an existing case and the wider risk to the general public remains very low.”
Six more people linked to the outbreak have left hospital to continue their isolation at home. Passengers from the cruise ship were taken to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral for checks and initial isolation earlier this month. Those isolating at home and those still in hospital are being closely monitored.
Some 19 British nationals were listed as passengers on the MV Hondius, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde, with four British crew members. Public Health Scotland warned that a small number of people in Scotland may have had contact with the virus and is working to contact them. Oceanwide Expeditions, which operates the ship, said it is undergoing further cleaning in Rotterdam before returning to its home port.
