Twenty-two people set to be released from hospital after hantavirus isolation

A group of twenty-two individuals, who were evacuated from a cruise ship following an outbreak of hantavirus, are preparing to leave a hospital in Liverpool where they have been quarantined since returning to the United Kingdom. These passengers and crew members from the MV Hondius have been isolating for 72 hours at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, and will be required to continue their isolation at home for an additional 42 days.

Among those isolating are 20 British nationals, one German national residing in the UK, and a Japanese passenger. Additionally, ten more passengers and crew members are being brought back to the UK from the British territories of Saint Helena and Ascension Islands as a precautionary measure. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the NHS in England is well prepared to provide care if any of these individuals develop symptoms.

According to Professor Robin May, the chief scientific officer at UKHSA, those currently at the hospital are in good health and show no symptoms. The affected people have been accommodated in flats where meals and essential supplies are provided, along with medical support from both UKHSA and NHS teams. Experts in public health and infectious diseases will determine if the individuals can continue self-isolation safely at home or if alternative accommodations need to be arranged. Professor May reassured the public, stating, “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 since the outbreak, with two confirmed to have been infected with the virus. These include an elderly Dutch man who passed away before testing could be conducted, his wife, and a German woman. The director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, commented earlier this week that although there is currently “no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,” efforts to contain the virus remain crucial as “it’s possible we might see more cases.” The MV Hondius had 87 passengers and 60 crew members onboard when it docked in the Canary Islands last week, per the ship’s operator, Oceanwide Expeditions.

Meanwhile, two British nationals have returned home via repatriation flights to the United States, and another British national is expected to return to Australia, according to UKHSA. Two additional British individuals who tested positive for hantavirus are receiving treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa. A British man with suspected hantavirus on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha is currently stable and remains in isolation. Furthermore, two more Britons who disembarked the ship at St Helena prior to the confirmation of the virus are continuing voluntary self-isolation at home in the UK.

The MV Hondius commenced its voyage on 1 April from Ushuaia, Argentina, with approximately 150 passengers and crew from 28 countries. Oceanwide Expeditions reported that all remaining guests aboard the ship at the time the outbreak was declared have now been repatriated to their countries of origin. The vessel is currently en route to the Netherlands, carrying 25 crew members, two medical professionals, and the body of a German passenger who had died

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