An international effort is underway to locate 30 cruise passengers who disembarked on a secluded Atlantic island amid concerns of a dangerous strain of Hantavirus spreading among them.
A third British citizen is now suspected to have contracted the virus on Tristan da Cunha, known as the world’s most isolated inhabited island. The MV Hondius, an exploration vessel, made a stop there in mid-April just before the severity of the outbreak became apparent.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued alerts to 12 countries, cautioning that passengers who left the 107-meter ship might be carrying the lethal pathogen. Among the countries warned are New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, Turkey, the US, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Switzerland, and the UK.
The virus has so far claimed three lives, with one victim’s body removed during a stop at Saint Helena, where Napoleon Bonaparte spent his final years in exile. The risk to locals on the island is deemed “extremely low” by the Saint Helena government, as most islanders had no contact with the ship.
The outbreak was confirmed to be the Andes strain on May 6, prompting concerns due to its ability to spread from person to person through close and prolonged contact. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stressed the importance of preventing further spread of the virus.
To enhance global preparedness, 2,500 diagnostic kits have been swiftly dispatched from Argentina to laboratories in five countries. Despite facing political controversies, the MV Hondius is en route to the Canary Islands as Britons aboard the ship are set to undergo a rigorous 45-day isolation period upon returning to the UK to ensure they are free of the virus.
Evacuations have already taken place, including a retired police officer, Martin Anstee, who remains stable in a Dutch hospital. Infectious disease specialist Maria van Kerkhove emphasized the unique transmission dynamics of the virus, highlighting the importance of precautionary measures.
All individuals on board the Oceanwide Expeditions-operated ship have been instructed to wear masks, with caregivers wearing enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) when in close proximity to suspected cases.