Third British national has suspected hantavirus infection, government says

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Third British national has suspected hantavirus infection, government says13 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleHugh Pym ,Health editorandTabby WilsonReutersA third British national has suspected hantavirus in connection with an outbreak on board the cruise ship MV Hondius, the government has said. The patient is currently on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where the ship stopped in mid-April. Two other British men have confirmed cases - one remains in a stable condition in the Netherlands after being evacuated from the ship on Wednesday, while the other remains in intensive care after being flown to South Africa last month.

Five cases of hantavirus have been confirmed, including one of the three passengers on the cruise who died. The MV Hondius is expected to dock in the Canary Islands at the weekend, where the government has confirmed it will be met by a chartered plane to fly the remaining British passengers and crew on the cruise ship back to the UK. Although none of the remaining Britons are currently displaying symptoms, they will be asked to isolate upon their return home.

The Details

British national Martin Anstee, a 56-year-old retired police officer and an expedition guide on board the MV Hondius, was evacuated to the Netherlands on Wednesday alongside a 41-year-old Dutch crew member and a 65-year-old German. He remains in a stable condition and told the that he was "fine". Another British passenger, 69, has a confirmed case and was medically evacuated to South Africa at the end of April.

He remains in intensive care and has been said by officials to be "doing better". Britons on hantavirus cruise ship face 45 days of self-isolationWhat is hantavirus and how does it spread? Race to trace passengers who left hantavirus cruise ship at islandTwo other British nationals are already self-isolating at home in the UK after potential exposure.

They are doing so voluntarily and do not have any symptoms. They were part of a group of 30 people from a dozen nations - including seven Britons - who disembarked from the ship at St Helena in the south Atlantic on 24 April, according to operator Oceanwide Expeditions. The operator said the first confirmed case of hantavirus was not reported until 4 May and that all guests who disembarked the ship had been contacted.

What Experts Say

Four Britons who disembarked on St Helena remain there. They do not have symptoms but are in contact with health officials. It is understood that medical staff will be sent to the islands to provide support.

A UK health official has said that British passengers who were on MV Hondius will likely be asked to self-isolate for 45 days on returning to the country. Contact tracing is under way in several other countries for dozens of passengers who left the Dutch cruise ship before the outbreak was detected - including Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.