Hantavirus: Health teams to support cruise ship passengers to isolate at home

Patients who are isolating in hospital in the North West of England following an outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship will soon return home.

The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that plans are underway to support over 20 passengers return home to isolate after being monitored at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral.

They have been monitored for 72 hours and will be asked to self-isolate at home for a further 42 days.

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Individuals have been assessed by public health and clinical specialists, and, where it is safe and possible, tailored support packages will be provided to enable people to isolate at home.

Health protection teams across the UK will continue to monitor and support the passengers after they leave the facility, the UKHSA said.

They were passengers on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship called the MV Hondius, which departed from Argentina on 1 April, and was hit by an outbreak of hantavirus. It was crossing the Atlantic Ocean when several passengers fell ill. Three people died following the outbreak.

Hantavirus is associated with rodents and includes symptoms such as fever, extreme fatigue, muscles aches, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and shortness of breath.

People tend to get infected when they breathe in particles from infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. The incubation period is typically two to five weeks.

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The UKHSA confirmed that it is are also supporting the relocation of some contacts to the passengers who are already isolating to places where specialist medical services can be accessed.

This includes10 people from the UK Overseas Territories of Saint Helena and Ascension Island who will be brought to the UK to complete their self-isolation as a precautionary measure. Currently, none of these contacts are symptomatic.

Arrangements are also being made for a small number of individuals who have been isolating at home or elsewhere in England to be assessed at Arrowe Park.

Chief scientific officer at UKHSA Professor Robin May said: ‘We are grateful to the passengers for their cooperation and patience in what we appreciate has been a very unsettling period for all involved.

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‘As this first assessment period concludes, our priority remains to ensure everyone is safe and well supported, wherever they complete their isolation.

‘Our teams will continue to be there for all of the affected individuals every step of the way.’