A third British national is believed to have contracted Hantavirus during an outbreak linked to the MV Hondius, authorities have announced.
The suspected patient is currently staying on Tristan da Cunha, where the cruise ship stopped in April.
Two other British men have already been confirmed with the infection. One is recovering in stable condition in the Netherlands after being evacuated from the vessel earlier this week. The second remains in intensive care in South Africa after being flown there last month for treatment.
Officials say five hantavirus cases have so far been confirmed in connection with the outbreak, including one passenger who died during the voyage.
The MV Hondius is due to arrive in the Canary Islands this weekend, where a chartered flight will transport the remaining British passengers and crew back to the UK.
Although no other British passengers are currently showing symptoms, they will be advised to isolate after returning home.
A 69-year-old British passenger has also tested positive for Hantavirus and was airlifted to South Africa for treatment at the end of April.
He remains in intensive care, but officials say his condition is improving.
Two additional British nationals are currently self-isolating in the UK after possible exposure to the virus. Both individuals are isolating voluntarily and have not developed any symptoms.
According to cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions, they were among 30 passengers from 12 countries — including seven Britons — who disembarked from the MV Hondius on St Helena on 24 April.
The company said the first confirmed hantavirus case was identified on 4 May, after passengers had already left the ship, and confirmed that everyone who disembarked has since been contacted.
Four British passengers who got off the ship at St Helena are still on the island. Although none are showing symptoms, they remain under the guidance of health authorities.
Medical personnel are expected to travel to the islands to help local healthcare teams and support those who may have been exposed.
UK health officials say passengers returning from the MV Hondius could be required to self-isolate for up to 45 days following the outbreak of Hantavirus on board.
Authorities in several countries, including the Netherlands and Switzerland, are tracing contacts after dozens of passengers left the Dutch cruise vessel before the outbreak was discovered.
The World Health Organization has described the situation as a “serious incident” but said the overall threat to the wider public remains low.
Officials also stressed that the outbreak is very different from the COVID-19 pandemic and is not expected to pose a similar global risk.
Britons impacted by the Hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius
- One patient is being treated in the Netherlands, another in South Africa, while a third is located on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha.
- Three British nationals are confirmed or suspected to have contracted Hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius outbreak.
- Seven British passengers disembarked the ship in St Helena on 24 April, before the first confirmed case was reported on 4 May. Four of them remain on the island.
- Two of those passengers have already returned to the UK and are voluntarily self-isolating, though neither has shown symptoms.
- The seventh British passenger has not yet been traced, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
The origin of the outbreak is still unknown and it is not known if people other than cruise ship passengers and crew have been infected with the disease.
WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus told a news conference that the first two cases had “travelled through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay on a bird-watching trip which included visits to sites where the species of rat known to carry the virus was present”.