Hantavirus testing of UK passengers well under way, health officials say

Passengers evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which experienced a hantavirus outbreak, are currently undergoing clinical evaluations and testing at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, according to health officials. Among those isolated at the hospital are twenty British nationals, one German resident in the UK, and a Japanese passenger. They have been in isolation for over 24 hours as part of a 72-hour quarantine protocol. Following discharge, they will be required to continue self-isolating for up to 45 days.

Professor Robin May, the Chief Scientific Officer at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), stated on Monday that the evacuees remained “healthy and asymptomatic.” Later that day, he provided further reassurance, emphasizing, “We want to reassure both passengers and the wider public that robust arrangements are in place, and that everyone involved will be looked after every step of the way.” Tragically, three people have died in connection with the outbreak; two cases were confirmed as resulting from the virus. These fatalities include an elderly Dutch man who passed away before testing could be conducted, his wife who died after leaving the ship, and a German woman who died onboard.

At a press briefing on Tuesday morning, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged that while “there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,” the containment efforts must continue due to the virus’s “long incubation period,” which means additional cases could emerge over the next few weeks. Ghebreyesus also addressed the psychological toll on passengers, noting some were “facing mental breakdown” after enduring weeks confined aboard the vessel. He added that WHO considered it “inhumane, and unnecessary” to keep people quarantined on the ship.

The MV Hondius, carrying around 150 passengers and crew originally from 28 countries, departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 1 and later docked in the Canary Islands, Spain. Over recent days, 87 individuals have been repatriated to their home countries. The group currently isolated at Arrowe Park was flown from Tenerife to Manchester on Sunday and is living in flats with ongoing medical and logistical support from NHS and UKHSA teams. Health experts will determine if they can safely continue self-isolating at home or need alternative accommodation. Additionally, two British nationals have returned to the United States, another is expected to go back to Australia, and two others with confirmed infections are receiving treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa. The ship operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, confirmed that all remaining guests have been repatriated, and the vessel is now en route to the Netherlands, carrying 25 crew members, two medical professionals, and the body of the deceased German passenger

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More