Ten more people to be flown to UK for hantavirus monitoring

MV Hondius began its journey on 1 April in Ushuaia, Argentina; the ship's operator stated that all guests who were still aboard when the outbreak was confirmed have now been repatriated, with the ship heading to the Netherlands.

Two more Britons were continuing to voluntarily self-isolate at home in the UK after disembarking on 24 April.

A British man on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, with suspected hantavirus, was in a stable condition and in isolation.

Oceanwide Expeditions said all guests who were still on board when the outbreak was confirmed have now been repatriated; the ship was heading to the Netherlands with 25 crew members, two medical professionals, and the body of the German passenger who died.

Two British nationals have returned home on repatriation flights to the United States, another is due to return to Australia; two more British nationals with confirmed cases were being treated in the Netherlands and South Africa.

Three deaths have occurred during the outbreak: an elderly Dutch man who died before testing, his wife who died after disembarking, and a German woman who died on board.

Public health and infectious disease specialists will assess whether evacuees can self-isolate at home for up to 45 days, or require another location.

During Tuesday's press briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said some passengers were facing mental breakdown after weeks on board.

Ten people from Saint Helena and Ascension Island were to be moved to the UK for self-isolation after evacuation.

In a later update on the same day, Prof May said robust arrangements are in place and that everyone involved will be looked after every step of the way.

On May 11, 2026, Prof Robin May, chief scientific officer at UKHSA, said the evacuees were 'healthy and asymptomatic'.

The passengers were more than 24 hours into a 72-hour isolation period at Arrowe Park Hospital.

The group isolating at Arrowe Park Hospital were flown to Manchester from Tenerife on Sunday, May 10, 2026.

Two British nationals disembarked the vessel at St Helena on 24 April, alongside dozens of other passengers before the first hantavirus case was confirmed.

MV Hondius began its voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina, carrying about 150 passengers and crew from 28 countries.