Third British National Displays Suspected Hantavirus Symptoms Aboard MV Hondius Cruise Ship
A third British national is suspected of hantavirus infection in connection with an outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship. This latest case is on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where the vessel docked in mid-April.
Two other British men have confirmed cases. One remains in a stable condition in the Netherlands, evacuated from the ship on Wednesday. The other is in intensive care in South Africa, having been flown there last month. Overall, five hantavirus cases have been confirmed, including one of the three passenger fatalities.
The MV Hondius is expected to arrive in the Canary Islands this weekend. A chartered plane will meet the ship to repatriate the remaining British passengers and crew to the UK. While none of these individuals are currently symptomatic, they will be required to isolate upon their return.
Martin Anstee, a 56-year-old retired police officer and expedition guide, was evacuated to the Netherlands alongside a 41-year-old Dutch crew member and a 65-year-old German national. He remains in a stable condition. Another British passenger, aged 69, with a confirmed case, was medically evacuated to South Africa in late April and is reportedly improving.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has labelled this a "serious incident" but stated that the public risk is low, distinguishing it from the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak's origin remains unclear, and it is unknown if the virus has spread beyond the cruise ship. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus noted that the first two cases involved travel through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, including visits to sites where the virus-carrying rat species is present.
Hantavirus typically transmits from rodents. However, experts believe human-to-human transmission through close contact may have occurred in this instance. Symptoms, which can include fever, extreme fatigue, stomach pain, vomiting, and shortness of breath, usually manifest two to four weeks post-exposure. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advises that the virus is not spread through casual contact; person-to-person transmission is rare and requires "close and prolonged" contact.
