9 May Statement
-- The UK government continues to work with international authorities ahead of the return of British nationals from Tenerife to the UK, following the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship confirmed by the World Health Organization.
-- WHO confirmed late yesterday that there are now 8 cases – 6 confirmed and 2 suspected cases. 1 suspected case was discounted yesterday as tests confirmed they did not have hantavirus.
-- 3 British nationals are included in the 8 cases: 2 have confirmed hantavirus and another 1 suspected. The 2 confirmed British cases are in hospital – 1 in South Africa and another in the Netherlands.
-- The third British national case disembarked from the ship on Tristan da Cunha as they live there. They are now being supported and monitored by health services on the island.
-- None of the British nationals on board MV Hondius are currently reporting symptoms, but they are being closely monitored.
-- The ship is expected to dock in Tenerife tomorrow (Sunday 10 May), where UK government staff will be on the ground ready to support the British nationals on board.
-- Further checks will be carried out by medical staff of all passengers and crew on board before they disembark. British Passengers and ship crew not displaying any symptoms of hantavirus will be escorted by UK government staff to an airport and a chartered flight will fly them back to the UK.
-- Infection prevention and control measures will be in place throughout the journey. Passengers, crew and medical teams boarding the flight will wear personal protective equipment such as face masks while journeying from Tenerife and during transit to facilities at Arrowe Park Hospital.
Risk to the public in the UK will remain very low.
-- On arrival, passengers will be safely escorted onto dedicated transport and transferred to an isolation facility at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral, where they will be taken to a managed setting to receive clinical assessments and testing as a precautionary measure. While at Arrowe Park and within the 72-hour period, public health specialists will assess whether passengers can isolate at home or they will isolate at another suitable location, based on their living arrangements.
-- The UK government is working closely with the UKHSA and NHS to ensure all returning nationals receive appropriate care and support.
-- All British passengers and crew on board the MV Hondius will be asked to isolate for up to 45 days upon returning to the UK. UKHSA will closely support and monitor these individuals, with testing as required.
-- Follow up is already underway for individuals who may have been in contact with cases and have since returned to the UK or are in UK Overseas Territories. The UK government will ensure those self-isolating are given appropriate support.
-- The risk to the general public remains very low.
Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Officer at UKHSA, said:
''We continue to work at pace with our international partners to ensure the safe repatriation of British nationals from the MV Hondius.
''The safety and well-being of those on board remains our number one priority. Established infection control measures will be in place at every step of the journey, and passengers will receive full support throughout, including during their period of isolation.
''We recognise that this has been an incredibly difficult and unsettling time for those affected and their loved ones at home. As they prepare for their journey back to the UK, we ask the media to respect the privacy of passengers and their families during what remains a challenging time.
(...)
Source:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-update-on-the-hantavirus-cruise-ship-outbreak
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