Two Britons self-isolating in UK after leaving hantavirus cruise ship early

Two British nationals are currently self-isolating at home following potential exposure to hantavirus aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, which has recently experienced an outbreak resulting in the deaths of three passengers, as reported by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The individuals were onboard the MV Hondius, which departed from Argentina a month ago, but disembarked earlier in its journey, and they are currently asymptomatic.

These two individuals left the cruise vessel at St Helena, where the ship docked from April 22 to April 24, before returning to the UK via Johannesburg. Upon learning about the outbreak on the ship, they proactively reached out to health officials.

The UKHSA confirmed that tracking of their contacts during their travels back to the UK is underway, while the risk to the general public remains classified as very low.

In total, three passengers have succumbed to the hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius. Despite local health officials expressing concerns, Spanish authorities have approved the vessel's docking in the Canary Islands.

Approximately 150 individuals, including 19 passengers and four crew members identified as British, remain aboard the cruise ship under strict precautionary measures, as stated by Oceanwide Expeditions.

Among these, a 56-year-old British man was one of three evacuees from the ship on Wednesday and is currently reported to be in a stable condition. Initial reports described him as the ship's doctor, a claim that has since been clarified as mistaken.

The UKHSA has indicated that the British passengers still on the ship will likely be repatriated via charter flight from the Canary Islands, provided they remain asymptomatic.

Should they be flown home, they will be required to self-isolate or potentially face quarantine for up to six weeks, depending on the timing of their last potential exposure to the virus.

Professor Robin May, the chief scientific officer at the UKHSA, stated, "We’re going to ask everybody who’s exposed to self-isolate, but we’ll be working very closely to support them on that with regular testing and all the support you’d expect us to put in place. That’s obviously for their protection as well as everybody around them."

Efforts are ongoing to identify other individuals who were in close proximity to the two individuals currently self-isolating during their flights home.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the risk to the general public remains low; the virus rarely transmits between humans and typically requires close contact.

The origin of the outbreak has yet to be determined, and it remains unclear whether individuals beyond the cruise ship passengers have contracted the virus.

In addition to the British nationals, two other individuals exhibiting symptoms—a 41-year-old Dutch crew member and a 65-year-old German passenger—were evacuated from the ship to receive medical assistance in the Netherlands, according to the WHO.

Prior to this, the Foreign Office expressed that it is "working urgently" to facilitate the safe return of British nationals currently on board the MV Hondius.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper noted that the situation is "very serious and deeply stressful for those affected and their families."

The Foreign Office further stated that the UK response to the outbreak is being coordinated by the UKHSA in collaboration with the WHO, with the objective of ensuring that British nationals onboard the MV Hondius are brought home safely, while also protecting public health.

Consular staff are maintaining direct communication with British nationals on the vessel, and the Foreign Office is actively collaborating with other nations to support medical evacuations and ensure the safe return of British citizens.

The UKHSA is also partnering with governments from St Helena, Tristan de Cunha, and Ascension Island to enhance isolation, contact tracing efforts, and response protocols.

The ship is scheduled to sail to the Canary Islands, where all passengers will be evacuated at Granadilla port in Tenerife, as confirmed by Spain's health minister, Monica Garcia.

Passengers from Spain will undergo quarantine in Madrid, while those from other countries will be repatriated if they exhibit no symptoms, Garcia added.

Hantavirus consists of a group of viruses carried by rodents, such as mice and rats, with symptoms including fever, severe fatigue, muscle aches, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

In light of the outbreak, the UKHSA reassured the public that the risk to the UK population is "very low" and emphasized that there is "no need for concern among the general public."