Hantavirus Outbreak: Britons Evacuated from Cruise Ship Recovering

In a positive development, two Britons who were medically evacuated from a cruise ship due to a hantavirus outbreak are on the road to recovery. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that one British patient is receiving care in Johannesburg, South Africa, while another, Martin Anstee, is being treated in the Netherlands.

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO representative, shared encouraging news during a press briefing, stating that the patient in South Africa is improving, and the two patients in the Netherlands are stable.

The cruise ship, MV Hondius, has been linked to an outbreak of hantavirus, a rare virus carried by rodents. As of Thursday, there were eight suspected cases, with five confirmed by laboratory tests. The outbreak has been connected to a birdwatching trip in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, which two passengers embarked on before boarding the ship.

Despite local concerns, the ship has been granted permission to anchor in the Canary Islands. It is estimated to arrive at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, where two doctors and infectious disease experts from the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control will conduct medical assessments of all on board.

While the public health risk is considered low, the WHO's director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warns that more cases may arise due to the virus's incubation period. He expressed gratitude to the ship's operator and acknowledged the challenging situation faced by passengers and crew.

The WHO does not anticipate an epidemic, citing a similar outbreak in Argentina in 2018-19 with 34 cases. British passengers returning from the vessel are isolating at home, and contact tracing is underway for those who may have been in close proximity during flights. UK health experts emphasize the negligible risk to the broader public.

The Foreign Office is arranging a charter flight to repatriate the remaining Britons on board who are asymptomatic, once the ship docks in Tenerife. British citizens on the ship are being closely monitored, and health officials advise a 45-day self-isolation period for those returning.