Hantavirus: Ten Britons from remote islands to come to UK to isolate

Ten Britons from South Atlantic islands connected to a cruise ship outbreak of hantavirus are to be brought to the UK in case they develop the illness, officials have said.

The group, who are thought to be residents of the UK overseas territories of St Helena and Ascension Island, are being “brought to the UK to complete their self-isolation as a precautionary measure”, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

All those involved are British and are understood to include people who left the cruise ship in St Helena, plus medical staff who have been in contact with them.

The UKHSA said the relocation involves “some contacts who are already isolating, to places where they can safely self-isolate with access to appropriate specialist medical services.”

It added: “This is because England’s NHS high consequence infectious disease network is well equipped to respond if they become unwell.

“Currently none of these contacts are symptomatic and this is precautionary to support communities in UK overseas territories. We will set out where they will isolate in due course.”

It comes as 20 British nationals from the MV Hondius, together with a German who is a UK resident, and a Japanese passenger, who have been isolating at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral prepare to leave the facility.

They were taken there on Sunday evening, after the ship docked in Tenerife, for a three-day isolation and assessment period. They will now isolate for a further 42 days.

The UKHSA said of this group: “Public health and clinical specialists have assessed each passenger’s individual circumstances, and, where it is safe and possible, tailored support packages will be provided to enable people to isolate at home.

“Health protection teams across the UK will continue to monitor and support everyone after they leave the facility, with daily contact throughout the isolation period to ensure they can isolate safely.”

The statement also said a “small number of individuals who have been isolating at home or elsewhere in England” will also be assessed at Arrowe Park.

Previously, it was reported that two Britons who returned to the UK from the ship early have been isolating at home. They contacted officials after hearing about the outbreak of hantavirus.

It is understood that neither of these people have developed hantavirus symptoms but are going to stay at Arrowe Park while they continue to isolate.

Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at UKHSA, said: “We are grateful to the passengers for their cooperation and patience in what we appreciate has been a very unsettling period for all involved.

“As this first assessment period concludes, our priority remains to ensure everyone is safe and well supported, wherever they complete their isolation.

“Our teams will continue to be there for all of the affected individuals every step of the way.

“We would ask the media and the public to respect the privacy of the passengers and their families at what has been a very difficult and distressing time for everyone involved.”

Earlier, a statement from the Ascension Island Government said a “small number of individuals currently on St Helena who travelled on the vessel have been assessed as higher risk”.

It said: “While the likelihood of illness remains low, UKHSA has advised that they should be the subject of pre-emptive relocation to the UK to complete their self-isolation. This is being arranged and they will be fully supported on arrival.”

One British man with hantavirus is still being cared for in Johannesburg and is thought to be improving, while another is in the Netherlands.

Another British national has hantavirus and is isolating where he lives on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha.

Separately, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) told a briefing on Tuesday that some passengers on the cruise ship had been “facing mental breakdown”.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it would have been “inhumane” to leave people on board the ship rather than letting it dock in Tenerife, from where people were repatriated to their home countries.

He said there was a need for kindness and compassion towards those involved.

He said: “Almost 150 people from 23 countries were on this ship for weeks, in what must have been a very frightening situation.

“Some of the passengers were facing mental breakdown.

“They have the right to be treated with dignity and compassion.

“There were some people around the world calling for the passengers to be contained on the ship for the full quarantine period.

“Our view was that would have been inhumane, and unnecessary. Yesterday during our press conference I called it even cruel to suggest that.

“We were convinced it was possible to disembark these passengers in a way that was safe for them and the people of Tenerife, and that was respectful of the human rights of the passengers and crew.”

The leader praised Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, for allowing the ship to dock in the Canaries.

He added: “I thank Prime Minister Sanchez not only for meeting Spain’s legal duty under international law, but also for exercising his moral duty to show solidarity with, and compassion and kindness for the passengers on the ship.”

So far, 11 hantavirus cases have been reported among people on the cruise, including three deaths.

Nine of the 11 cases are confirmed, with two more probable cases.

“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,” Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the briefing, adding:

“And given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.”

In a video message on Monday, the ship’s captain Mr Dobrogowski thanked passengers and crew and said “the past few weeks have been extremely challenging to us all”.

He added: “What touched me the most, what moved me the most, was your patience, your discipline, and also (the) kindness that you showed to each other throughout.”

Meanwhile, a French woman who tested positive for hantavirus is in intensive care in a stable condition at a Paris hospital.

One of 18 evacuated passengers flown to the US has also tested positive but has no symptoms, while another had mild symptoms.

Spain’s health ministry said one Spaniard who is quarantining in Madrid has also provisionally tested positive for hantavirus.