Britain to bring 10 people to UK for precautionary isolation after hantavirus outbreak
Precautionary Measures Following Hantavirus Outbreak
LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) - Britain said on Tuesday that 10 people from remote island territories, including cruise ship passengers and medical staff who had contact with confirmed cases in the hantavirus outbreak, will be brought to the UK for precautionary isolation.
Details of the Isolation Plan
The UK Health Security Agency said the individuals were already isolating and not showing symptoms. The move was intended as a precaution, it said.
All 10 people are British nationals.
Connection to Cruise Ship MV Hondius
The outbreak has been linked to the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, which travelled through the South Atlantic and stopped at several places. The 10 people being transferred to Britain are from the overseas territories of Saint Helena island and Ascension Island.
Disembarkation and Medical Evacuations
According to the cruise company's website, 32 guests and one crew member disembarked from the vessel at Saint Helena and two guests had a medical evacuation via Ascension Island.
Actions Taken on Affected Islands
The governor of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha said in a statement on Monday that resident medical staff on Ascension Island who had treated a confirmed case were being relocated to Britain as a precaution, with replacement clinicians flown in to maintain healthcare on the island.
Assessment of High-Risk Contacts
On Saint Helena, Governor Nigel Phillips said a small number of people who had travelled on the cruise ship were assessed as higher-risk contacts. While the likelihood of illness remained low, UKHSA advised they should also be moved to Britain to complete their self-isolation.
Official Responses and Public Health Risk
The British government did not immediately respond to a request for comment for further details.
Ongoing Monitoring and Contact Tracing
The health agency added that the risk to the wider public remained low and said it would continue contact tracing and monitoring of people linked to the ship.
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Rod Nickel)
