UK Health Officials Isolate Hantavirus Contacts from Remote Islands

British health officials are isolating 10 individuals from remote island territories who were in contact with others during a hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. The isolation is precautionary as they show no symptoms. The risk to the public is low, officials say.

In a precautionary measure, British health authorities announced on Tuesday that 10 individuals from remote British island territories who had contact with people in a hantavirus outbreak will be brought to the UK for isolation. These individuals, from Saint Helena and Ascension Island, are asymptomatic and their isolation is purely precautionary.

The outbreak is linked to the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, which stopped at several locations in the South Atlantic. The 10 individuals being transferred to the UK were indirectly linked to incidents during the cruise where 32 guests and one crew member disembarked at Saint Helena, and two guests were medically evacuated via Ascension Island.

British authorities have emphasized that the risk to the general public is very low. The UK Health Security Agency is continuing contact tracing and monitoring of individuals connected to the MV Hondius to ensure that no further spread of the virus occurs.