The UK has sent a mobile laboratory to a remote island where a hantavirus outbreak occurred on a cruise ship, as confirmed by health officials. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) disclosed that three members of the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) were deployed to St Helena and Ascension, UK overseas territories in the South Atlantic, following a request for assistance from the island’s government.
Ten Britons from South Atlantic islands associated with the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak will be brought to the UK as a precautionary measure in case they develop the illness. These individuals, believed to be residents of St Helena and Ascension, will complete their self-isolation in the UK, as confirmed by the UKHSA.
The deployed team includes two microbiologists, Clara Milroy and Kimberley Steeds, who will conduct PCR testing for hantavirus and support testing for other conditions. They are joined by infection prevention and control specialist Anthony Twyman, who will assist Jamestown General Hospital in preparing for and responding to potential cases. The team will remain on the island for the next eight weeks, according to the agency.
Dr. Edmund Newman, director of the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team, emphasized the UKHSA’s commitment to responding promptly to health threats globally and supporting international partners in safeguarding public health. The risk to the general public is deemed very low despite the outbreak.
The cruise ship outbreak has led to at least 11 confirmed cases among passengers, with three fatalities. Public Health Scotland issued a warning regarding potential exposure in Scotland and is actively contacting individuals at risk. Approximately 20 Britons are currently isolating at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, with health authorities prepared for further cases.
The World Health Organization clarified that the hantavirus outbreak is not equivalent to the Covid pandemic. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus mentioned the anticipation of more cases due to the virus’s lengthy incubation period and emphasized the need for vigilance in the coming weeks.
