The UK Government is 'working urgently' to support British people affected by the hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship. It is understood that 19 British nationals were listed as passengers on the cruise, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde with four British crew members.
Outbreak Linked to Birdwatching Expedition
The outbreak has been linked to a birdwatching expedition in Argentina which two of the passengers went on before boarding the ship. Two Britons - a passenger and a crew member - are among those who have been taken ill in the suspected outbreak, which has been linked to three deaths.
Medical Evacuations and Response
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the crew member, understood 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, May 6, for onward travel to the Netherlands. Spanish health officials said 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. The passenger was medically evacuated from the ship on April 27 and taken to Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Foreign Office said that it was 'working urgently' to help get Britons 'safely home with proper protection for public health'. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "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 to Dock in Canary Islands
The evacuation means the ship can now continue on its three-day journey to the Canary Islands after Spanish authorities gave permission for the boat to dock. But a row erupted after the president of the Canary Islands expressed concern over the ship docking in Tenerife. In an update posted online, Spanish health authorities said the ship is expected to arrive within 72 to 96 hours. Officials said passengers will be disembarked in a 'controlled' way 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 Agency Assessments
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said everyone on board should be considered as a 'close contact'. A Threat Assessment Brief posed by the European health agency states: "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." But it said 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 says people with symptoms should be medically evacuated. Passengers without symptoms should receive a test when they disembark. But it points out that a negative test 'may not exclude infection'. It adds: "Disembarking passengers should be provided with clear instructions and recommendations until their diagnosis is confirmed or ruled out."
Origin of the Outbreak
According to the Associated Press, the Argentine government’s hypothesis is 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. Passengers are 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 extra medics have been flown in to assist.
Current Cases and Contacts
The WHO said there are 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 looking for people who had possible 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 travelled there.
