Ten individuals from the remote South Atlantic islands of St Helena and Ascension Island are set to be relocated to the United Kingdom as a precautionary measure following their exposure to a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The group, who are from British overseas territories, will be brought to the UK to complete their self-isolation in case they develop the illness, ensuring access to appropriate medical care if needed.
The UKHSA stated that the relocation is for contacts who are already isolating, and they will be moved to places where they can safely self-isolate with access to specialist medical services. England's NHS high consequence infectious disease network is well equipped to respond if they become unwell. Currently, none of these contacts are symptomatic, and the move is precautionary to support communities in UK overseas territories.
This development comes as 20 British nationals from the MV Hondius cruise ship, along with a German UK resident and a Japanese passenger, prepare to leave Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral after a three-day isolation and assessment period. They will now isolate for a further 42 days, with tailored support packages provided for home isolation where possible. Health protection teams across the UK will monitor and support them with daily contact throughout the isolation period.
Additionally, a small number of individuals who have been isolating at home or elsewhere in England will also be assessed at Arrowe Park. Previously, two Britons who returned from the ship early have been isolating at home after contacting officials about the outbreak.
Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at UKHSA, expressed gratitude to the passengers for their cooperation and patience, emphasizing that the priority is to ensure everyone is safe and well supported wherever they complete their isolation. He appealed to the media and public to respect the privacy of the passengers and their families during this difficult time.
The Ascension Island Government confirmed that a small number of individuals on St Helena who travelled on the vessel have been assessed as higher risk. Although the likelihood of illness remains low, UKHSA advised pre-emptive relocation to the UK to complete self-isolation, with full support upon arrival.
Separately, one British man with hantavirus is being treated in Johannesburg and is reportedly improving, while another is in the Netherlands. Another British national with hantavirus is isolating on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commented on the situation, stating that some passengers on the cruise ship were facing mental breakdown. He praised Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for allowing the ship to dock in the Canary Islands, calling it a humane and compassionate decision. Dr Tedros emphasized the need for kindness and compassion towards those involved, noting that confining passengers to the ship for the full quarantine period would have been inhumane.
So far, 11 hantavirus cases have been reported among cruise passengers, including three deaths. Nine cases are confirmed, with two probable. Dr Tedros stated there is no sign of a larger outbreak, but given the long incubation period, more cases may appear in the coming weeks.
The ship's captain, Mr Dobrogowski, thanked passengers and crew for their patience and kindness during the challenging period. Meanwhile, a French woman who tested positive for hantavirus is in intensive care in Paris in stable condition. One of 18 evacuated passengers flown to the US has also tested positive but is asymptomatic, while another had mild symptoms. Spain's health ministry reported that one Spaniard quarantining in Madrid has provisionally tested positive.
