Seven British nationals disembarked from the hantavirus-affected cruise ship MV Hondius midway through its journey, it has emerged. They were among 29 people who left the vessel when it docked in the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena, including a Dutch woman who later died after falling ill during onward travel.
Details of the Disembarkation
The Dutch woman was accompanying her husband's body, which was being repatriated after he died on the ship on April 11. Tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that 30 guests disembarked on St Helena on April 24, including the deceased passenger. The 30 individuals came from 12 different nations, with seven being British.
Contact Tracing and Health Measures
Oceanwide Expeditions stated that all guests who left the ship have been contacted. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) advised on Wednesday that everyone on board should be considered a close contact. This follows the UK Health Security Agency's announcement that two Britons who returned from the vessel are isolating at home. These passengers flew back to the UK via Johannesburg after disembarking in St Helena.
In total, 19 British nationals were listed as passengers on the MV Hondius, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde, along with four British crew members.
