A British national who departed the hantavirus cruise ship ahead of schedule is unaccounted for as health officials race to track down the individual. Seven British passengers disembarked from the MV Hondius partway through the voyage alongside a woman who subsequently died, it has emerged.
A total of 29 people left the ship when it docked at the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena, among them a Dutch woman who fell ill and later passed away. The woman had been accompanying her husband’s body, which was being repatriated following his death aboard the ship on April 11.
A spokesperson for the UK Health Security Agency confirmed to The Mirror that of the seven Britons, two are now self-isolating back in the UK, four remain in St Helena, and efforts to locate the seventh person are continuing.
They said: “We are aware of seven British Nationals who disembarked the ship at St Helena on April 24. Two of these individuals are now self-isolating in the UK while the others have not yet returned.
“Four of these individuals remain in St Helena and we are in touch with the relevant health officials to provide advice on contact management. Tracing efforts are ongoing for the seventh individual, who we know has not yet returned to the UK.”
The 30 people who disembarked at St Helena represented 12 different nations. The cruise ship is now en route to the Canary Islands following a stop at Cape Verde. Five of the eight suspected hantavirus cases from the vessel have now been confirmed.
Two British nationals have since been medically evacuated, including crew member Martin Anstee, 56.
The expedition guide and former police officer was airlifted from the vessel on Wednesday and flown to the Netherlands to receive specialist medical treatment.
Speaking from hospital, he told Sky News: “I’m doing OK. I’m not feeling too bad. There are still lots of tests to be done. I have no idea how long I’ll be in the hospital for. I’m in isolation at the moment.”
“The fear with this virus is it can deteriorate very quickly so it’s been a bit up and down for him. I don’t believe he’s in imminent danger now but it was horrible.”
