Two British nationals have been confirmed to have contracted hantavirus on the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, with a third suspected case. The UK Health Security Agency stated that none of the British citizens on the cruise ship MV Hondius are showing symptoms, but they are under close observation. Upon their return to Britain, all British passengers and crew will be required to isolate for 45 days.
British government personnel will assist British nationals disembarking in Spain’s Tenerife when the ship docks on Sunday. Seven British nationals had disembarked in St Helena on April 24, with two returning to Britain and self-isolating without symptoms. Four individuals remain in St Helena, while the seventh person has been located outside Britain.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that five of the eight cases on the cruise ship MV Hondius were confirmed as hantavirus infections, with the remaining three considered as suspected cases. The WHO clarified that the hantavirus outbreak does not signal the start of a COVID pandemic and poses low risk to the public. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention classified the outbreak as a “level 3” emergency, indicating low public health risk but ongoing monitoring by health authorities.
