Brits on Rat Virus Cruise Face 45 Days of Isolation Hell
British vacationers aboard a luxury cruise ship are in for a nightmare: a potential 45-day isolation after being exposed to the deadly "rat virus." The outbreak, linked to a rare strain of hantavirus, has already claimed three lives on the MV Hondius, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde.
The ship turned into a floating prison as the virus spread, often transmitted by infected rodents. Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), revealed that the incubation period for this "Andean strain" is alarmingly long, forcing passengers into an extended quarantine.
On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Prof May stated, "The most extreme case of incubation may be up to eight weeks, but general consensus is people need to isolate for probably six weeks. So that’s the period of isolation, 45 days that we’re likely to be recommending."
While the risk to the general public remains "negligible," those on board are being fast-tracked back home. "The Foreign Office is leading on that, and once they’re back, they’re going to be asked to self-isolate," he added.
As the situation escalates, two Brits managed to slip back into the UK via Johannesburg after disembarking at St Helena. Although symptom-free, they are voluntarily isolating, prompting health officials to trace anyone who sat near them on their long-haul flight.
Prof May reassured the public, saying, "Hantavirus is actually not that easy to transmit between individuals, so a quick pass in an airport, for example, is not going to put you at risk." The focus is on those who spent several hours next to potentially infected passengers.
Among those evacuated is British crew member Martin Anstee, 56. The former police officer and expedition guide was airlifted to the Netherlands for specialized care. From his hospital bed, he shared, "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."
His wife, Nicola, described the ordeal as "traumatic," stating, "He’s relieved to be off the ship. He had it quite mild then it got a bit more serious and now he’s stable again. The fear with this virus is it can deteriorate very quickly so it’s been a bit up and down for him."
The outbreak's origin is believed to stem from a birdwatching trip in Ushuaia, Argentina. Officials suspect a Dutch couple visited a rubbish dump during the excursion, where they may have encountered infected rodent droppings.
Currently, around 150 people remain confined in their cabins on the MV Hondius as it prepares to dock in Tenerife. A Foreign Office charter flight is set to whisk the remaining Brits home.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that the government is "working urgently" to ensure citizens return safely, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged that the outbreak "will be worrying many."