The UK government has stated it is "working urgently" to support British nationals affected by a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship. The outbreak has been associated with a birdwatching expedition in Argentina, which two passengers undertook before boarding the vessel.
Britons on Board
According to officials, 19 British nationals were listed as passengers on the cruise, which was traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde. Additionally, four British crew members were on board. Two Britons—a passenger and a crew member—are among those who have fallen ill in the suspected outbreak, which has been linked to three deaths.
Medical Evacuations
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that the crew member, believed to be a doctor on the ship, along with a Dutch crew member and another passenger, were taken from the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius on Wednesday. They were transported onward to the Netherlands. Spanish health officials have indicated that the British medic is now in a more "stable condition" after previously being in a "critical condition." A medical evacuation flight arrived at Amsterdam's airport on Wednesday evening, as reported by the Associated Press. The passenger had been medically evacuated from the ship on April 27 and taken to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Government Response
The Foreign Office stated it is "working urgently" to help get Britons "safely home with proper protection for public health." Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper commented: "The outbreak of hantavirus is very serious and deeply stressful for those affected and their families." Health Secretary Wes Streeting added: "The outbreak of hantavirus on the MV Hondius will be worrying many. The Government are taking this incredibly seriously and are working urgently to support the British nationals involved. We are working across DHSC, UKHSA and the FCDO to ensure all those affected get home safely."
Ship's Journey and Disembarkation
The evacuation has allowed the ship to continue its three-day journey to the Canary Islands, after Spanish authorities granted permission for the boat to dock. However, a dispute arose when the president of the Canary Islands expressed concern about the ship docking in Tenerife. Spanish health authorities posted an update online stating that the ship is expected to arrive within 72 to 96 hours. Officials said passengers will be disembarked in a "controlled" manner, with "direct transfer from the port to the airport and subsequent return to their countries of origin, avoiding at all times transit through spaces open to the general population."
Health Measures and Risk Assessment
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has stated that everyone on board should be considered a "close contact." A Threat Assessment Brief from the European health agency explains: "We consider everyone on the ship to be close contacts, due to the closed setting and shared social areas and activities, aligned with the precautionary principle." However, it noted that the strain of the virus "does not transmit easily so it is unlikely that it would cause many cases or a widespread outbreak in the community, if infection prevention and control measures are applied." The technical brief recommends that symptomatic individuals be medically evacuated, while asymptomatic passengers should be tested upon disembarkation. It cautions that a negative test "may not exclude infection." Disembarking passengers should be provided with clear instructions and recommendations until their diagnosis is confirmed or ruled out.
Source of Outbreak
The Associated Press reported the Argentine government's hypothesis that a Dutch couple contracted the virus during a birdwatching outing in the city of Ushuaia before boarding. Two Argentine officials told the news agency that the couple visited a landfill during the birdwatching tour, where they may have been exposed to rodents carrying the infection. The ship has been anchored off Cape Verde, with passengers confined to their cabins while "disinfection and other public health measures are carried out," the WHO said on Tuesday. It is understood that none of the remaining passengers on board have symptoms, and two additional medics have been flown in to assist. The WHO reported eight cases, three of which are confirmed, after a passenger on the boat presented himself to a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, and was confirmed to have the virus. Health officials in South Africa are searching for individuals who may have had contact with one of the suspected cases. The South African Health Ministry said officials have traced 42 out of 62 people they believe had contact with the two infected passengers who traveled there, as reported by the Associated Press.
