Hantavirus Update: Health Officials Report Improvement Among Britons Medically Evacuated from Cruise

Two British nationals evacuated from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak are reported to be improving, according to global health officials. A 69-year-old British passenger was transferred to a private health facility in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 27 and is said to be on the mend. Another Briton, Martin Anstee, a 56-year-old expedition guide, was flown to the Netherlands for specialized medical attention after being taken off the MV Hondius the same week. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization (WHO) stated during a press briefing that one British national remains hospitalized in the Netherlands while another is in intensive care in South Africa. "I am pleased to report that the patient in South Africa is improving, and the two in the Netherlands are stable," she said, calling it good news amidst a worrying outbreak. As of Thursday, there are eight suspected cases of hantavirus, with five confirmed through laboratory tests. The outbreak, which has been linked to three fatalities, originated from a birdwatching trip in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, taken by two passengers before boarding the cruise. Spanish authorities have permitted the MV Hondius to anchor in the Canary Islands despite concerns from local residents. The ship departed Cape Verde on Wednesday and is estimated to arrive in Granadilla, Tenerife, early Sunday morning. Since the ship began its journey to Tenerife, morale on board has reportedly improved. The WHO has deployed two doctors and infectious disease experts to conduct health assessments on all passengers. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO's Director-General, noted that while the situation is serious, the overall public health risk remains low. He expressed gratitude to the ship's operator and praised the passengers and crew for their resilience during this distressing time. Health experts are cautious of potential new cases, citing the Andes virus's incubation period, which can last up to six weeks. Dr. Abdirahman Mahamud, director of the WHO’s alert and response coordination department, emphasized this outbreak is not expected to escalate into an epidemic, referencing a similar incident in Argentina in 2018-2019 that resulted in 34 cases. Among the passengers who left the MV Hondius were seven British nationals, including a Dutch woman who fell ill during travel from the ship and passed away. The woman was repatriating her husband's body following his death on the ship on April 11. Subsequently, a flight attendant in Amsterdam who had contact with the deceased has reported experiencing symptoms. Oceanwide Expeditions, the tour operator, has since reached out to all guests who disembarked the ship. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is working to confirm contact with the seven British passengers who left the ship on April 24. Two Britons who returned earlier have already been isolating at home and show no symptoms. Contact tracing is being conducted for anyone who may have been in proximity to these individuals during their flights home. The UKHSA has advised British passengers on board the MV Hondius to self-isolate in the UK for 45 days as a precautionary measure. They indicated that risk levels for the general public who were not on the cruise remain negligible. To ensure the safety of passengers still aboard the ship, the Foreign Office is organizing a charter flight for those showing no symptoms as soon as they dock in Tenerife. The monitoring of the British nationals is ongoing, with experts suggesting an isolation period of up to six weeks due to the potential for hantavirus incubation. Anstee, who is undergoing treatment in the Netherlands, shared his experience from the hospital, stating, "I'm doing OK. I'm not feeling too bad. There are still lots of tests to be done. I have no idea how long I’ll be in the hospital for; I’m in isolation at the moment." Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2