Two British nationals are currently self-isolating in the United Kingdom after potential exposure to hantavirus aboard the cruise vessel MV Hondius, which has been linked to a deadly outbreak during its Antarctic voyage.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the two individuals left the ship at St Helena in late April and returned to Britain via Johannesburg. Although neither has shown symptoms, they contacted health authorities after learning about confirmed infections on board.
Meanwhile, a 56-year-old British passenger, identified as former police officer Martin Anstee, remains in stable condition after being medically evacuated from the ship to the Netherlands on Wednesday. His wife, Nicola Anstee, described the past few days as “very dramatic,” saying the illness initially appeared mild before worsening unexpectedly.
“He’s relieved to be off the ship. The fear with this virus is that it can deteriorate very quickly,” she told British media.
UKHSA Chief Scientific Officer Professor Robin May confirmed that the patient is “doing well” and receiving appropriate medical care.
The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has already claimed three lives, either during the voyage or shortly after passengers disembarked. The cruise departed from Argentina roughly a month ago.
Among those evacuated alongside the British patient were a 41-year-old Dutch crew member and a 65-year-old German passenger. Health authorities are still investigating the exact origin of the outbreak, though officials in Argentina are reportedly examining whether the virus may have been introduced by Dutch travelers who had recently toured southern Argentina and Chile.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has so far identified eight hantavirus-related cases linked to the ship — including three confirmed infections and five suspected cases.
One confirmed fatality involved a Dutch woman who left the vessel in St Helena before later dying in South Africa. Her husband had earlier died aboard the ship, though his case has not been officially confirmed as hantavirus-related. Another deceased passenger, a German woman whose body remains on the ship, is also under investigation.
Health officials confirmed that the Andes strain of hantavirus has been detected in at least two passengers. Although hantavirus is typically transmitted through rodents, experts believe close human-to-human transmission may have occurred in this outbreak — a rare but documented characteristic of the Andes strain.
Medical experts say symptoms can take between one and eight weeks to appear, with current scientific opinion suggesting an incubation period of around six weeks.
Despite the seriousness of the outbreak, both the WHO and UKHSA have stressed that the overall risk to the public remains low.
Approximately 150 passengers and crew members from 23 countries remain aboard the vessel under strict precautionary measures. Spanish authorities have granted permission for the ship to dock in the Canary Islands, where passengers will undergo medical assessments before repatriation.
British passengers without symptoms are expected to return home on a charter flight and may face self-isolation or quarantine for up to six weeks depending on their level of exposure.
UK authorities are continuing an extensive contact-tracing operation involving family members, cabin-sharing passengers, and airline contacts.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the situation as “very serious and deeply stressful” for passengers and their families, adding that British officials are working urgently to bring UK nationals home safely.