A British national who went missing after leaving the hantavirus-ravaged cruise ship MV Hondius has now been traced, though he has not yet returned to the United Kingdom, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed.
Seven British individuals disembarked from the vessel when it docked in St Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic, alongside a Dutch woman who subsequently passed away. The woman had been accompanying her husband's body, which was being repatriated following his death on the ship on April 11.
In total, 29 people left the MV Hondius during its stop at St Helena. The cruise ship is now heading toward the Canary Islands after a stop in Cape Verde. Of the eight suspected hantavirus cases linked to the ship, five have now been confirmed.
WHO Confirms Health Improvement for Evacuated Brits
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that two British nationals medically evacuated from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship are showing signs of improvement. A 69-year-old man was transported to South Africa on April 27 and is receiving care at a private health facility in Sandton, Johannesburg. Another Briton, Martin Anstee, 56, was taken off the MV Hondius on Wednesday and flown to the Netherlands for specialist medical treatment.
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove of the WHO confirmed that two patients, including a Briton, remain hospitalised in the Netherlands, while another Briton is in intensive care in South Africa. She stated during a WHO press briefing: 'I am very happy to say the patient in South Africa is doing better, and the two patients in the Netherlands we hear are stable. So that is actually very good news.'
UKHSA Locates Missing Seventh Person
The UKHSA has announced that it has now located the seventh individual who left the cruise ship in St Helena. A spokesperson said: 'We are aware of seven British Nationals who disembarked the ship at St Helena on 24 April. Two of these individuals are now self-isolating in the UK while the others have not yet returned. Four of these individuals remain in St Helena and we are in touch with the relevant health officials to provide advice on contact management. The seventh individual has also been contacted and is not currently in the UK.'
WHO Warns of Potential Further Cases
WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus has cautioned that more cases of hantavirus may emerge. He told a press briefing on Thursday: 'So far, eight cases have been reported, including three deaths. Five of the eight cases have been confirmed as hantavirus, and the other three are suspected.' He added: 'Given the incubation period of the Andes Virus (Hantavirus), which can be up to six weeks, it's possible that more cases may be reported.'
