Two British people self-isolating in the UK after returning from ‘hantavirus cruise’

Two British nationals who disembarked early from the MV Hondius cruise ship caught in the hantavirus outbreak have been told to self-isolate.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said today it has been in touch with two British passengers who left the cruise ship after its first leg.

They returned to the UK on their own, and are not currently showing any symptoms, the disease watchdog said.

It said the two passengers have been advised to self-isolate.

The two passengers left the ship at St Helena before flying back to the UK through Johannesburg, South Africa.

Their contacts on the UK-bound flight are now being traced.

Dr Meera Chand, the deputy director for epidemic and emerging infections at UKHSA said: ‘Our thoughts are with all those affected by the hantavirus outbreak onboard the MV Hondius.

‘It’s important to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains very low.

‘We are standing up arrangements to support, isolate and monitor British nationals from the ship on their return to the UK and we are contact tracing anyone who may have been in contact with the ship or the hantavirus cases to limit the risk of onward transmission.’

UKHSA will continue to work closely with government partners to offer all necessary support.

What is hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a family of rodent-borne viruses, with each strain tied to a specific host species.

It’s spread when people come into contact with infected droppings, saliva, urine or nesting materials, but is extremely rare, and rarely passed from person to person.

If caught, hantavirus can lead to two main illnesses, one of which affects the lungs (Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome or HPS) and the other which affects the kidneys (Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome or HFRS).

The incubation period for this illness is generally two to four weeks, according to the government, but can range from as little as two days to as long as eight weeks.

What are the symptoms?

Early symptoms of hantavirus are similar to the flu, and include headaches, dizziness, chills as well as abdominal problems like diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea.

If it progresses into Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, patients can experience headaches, dizziness, chills and abdominal problems like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

If you develop Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, initial symptoms will include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever or chills, nausea, and blurred vision.

If the disease progresses, later symptoms include low blood pressure, acute shock (lack of blood flow), internal bleeding, and acute kidney failure, according to the CDC.

Hantavirus can be fatal, so it’s important to keep an eye on symptoms if you believe yo

The UKHSA said: ‘UKHSA is aware of two people who have returned to the UK independently having been on board the MV Hondius.

‘Neither of these individuals is currently reporting symptoms.

‘They are receiving advice and support from UKHSA and have been advised to self-isolate. 

‘UKHSA are supporting a small number of individuals identified as close contacts of those on the boat. They are being offered support and are also self-isolating. None are reporting any symptoms. The risk to the general public remains very low.’

The cruise ship with around 150 people, including 23 British nationals, stuck on board has left to sail towards the Canary Islands after being anchored outside Cape Verde.

Health officials from dozens of countries are racing to trace any contacts from people who were taken ashore in St Helena after suspected exposure to the rat-borne virus.

Three people, including the ship’s doctor, were evacuated from MV Hondius today to the Netherlands for medical care. The UKHSA said it is in close contact with the medical teams.

The British nationals waiting on board MV Hondius could be repatriated when the ship docks at the next destination if they do not develop symptoms, UKHSA said.

A hantavirus infection, which doesn’t spread easily between people, although this is not impossible, can take up to eight weeks to incubate.

A leading theory has emerged for the infection that killed a Dutch couple who were travelling on the Dutch-flagged ship run by Oceanwide Expeditions after it set sail from Argentina.

Investigators suggested the couple may have caught the rat-virus while birdwatching and visiting a landfill site in the city of Ushuaia.

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