Latest update
The UK government continues to work with the NHS, local authorities and UK Overseas Territories in response to the hantavirus outbreak.
UKHSA and NHS staff have been closely monitoring those currently at Arrowe Park and those isolating at home to provide them with all necessary support.
A further individual has left Arrowe Park today to complete their 45-day isolation period at home after a clinical and public health assessment confirmed it was safe for them to do so.
A contact from Ascension Island, a medic who developed symptoms, has now safely arrived at the High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) unit in Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
They were medically evacuated to the UK separately for specialist assessment, as a highly precautionary measure.
While the individual is not a confirmed case, cases of Hantavirus can rapidly become very unwell and require critical care.
As there is no specialist infectious diseases unit on Ascension Island, the decision was made to bring them to the UK to ensure they receive the best possible support at a HCID unit should they become unwell.
The individual will undergo further testing and assessment at the unit today.
As updated previously, UKHSA is working closely with FCDO and UK Overseas Territories to support the relocation of 9 asymptomatic contacts from St Helena and Ascension Island.
They will be brought to the UK to complete their self-isolation as a highly precautionary measure.
This will ensure they can be provided with the best possible support from the NHS’s HCID network should they become unwell.
They are expected to arrive in the UK on Sunday and will be transferred to Arrowe Park where they will be closely monitored and offered all necessary support. The chartered flight will operate under strict infection prevention and control measures and medical checks will be carried out before the flight to ensure passengers are asymptomatic.
Dr William Welfare, Director Health Protection in Regions at UKHSA, said:
''We would like to thank those who remain in isolation at Arrowe Park, as well as those now self-isolating at home. We know how difficult and stressful a time this continues to be for all those involved and we are very grateful for their cooperation.
''Our teams will continue to work closely with all those affected by this outbreak, ensuring everyone has the necessary support in place.
''I am very pleased to hear the contact who developed symptoms on Ascension Island is now safely being cared for at the High Consequence Infectious Diseases unit in Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
''UKHSA continues to work closely with FCDO, DHSC and NHS colleagues to safely bring the British nationals currently isolating on St Helena and Ascension Island to the UK.
''The risk to the general public remains very low.
Further information on the rapid response mobile laboratory can be found in the recent blog from UKHSA.
Source:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-update-on-the-hantavirus-cruise-ship-outbreak
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