Statement from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
The UK government continues to work with international authorities in preparing for the arrival of British nationals to the UK from the MV Hondius cruise ship where an outbreak of Hantavirus was confirmed by the World Health Organization.
Two British nationals have confirmed hantavirus, with an additional suspected case of a British national on Tristan da Cunha.
None of the British citizens onboard are currently reporting symptoms but they are being closely monitored.
The ship is expected to dock in Tenerife on Sunday, according to the latest updates from the Spanish Health Ministry.
UK government staff will be on the ground ready to support the British nationals disembarking.
British Passengers and ship crew not displaying any symptoms of hantavirus will be escorted by UK Government staff to an airport and given free passage back to the UK.
FCDO and UKHSA teams will be on the ground to support these arrangements, bolstered by a Rapid Deployment Team sent from the UK.
The FCDO is chartering a dedicated repatriation flight for British ship passengers and crew only. This flight will be free of charge.
UKHSA is working with partners to ensure the flight operates under strict infection control measures.
Public health and infectious disease specialists from UKHSA and the NHS will be on board to monitor British Nationals whilst on the flight, to ensure that preventative measures are in place and to provide any care in the unlikely event that any passengers become unwell on the flight.
All British passengers and crew on board the MV Hondius will be asked to isolate for 45 days upon returning to the UK and UKHSA will closely 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 in UK Overseas Territories.
The UK government will ensure those self-isolating are given appropriate support.
UKHSA is aware of seven British Nationals who disembarked the ship at St Helena on 24 April.
Two of those people have returned to the UK independently and are isolating at home in the UK.
Neither of these individuals is currently reporting symptoms. They are receiving advice and support from UKHSA and have been advised to self-isolate.
Four of these individuals remain in St Helena. A seventh individual has been traced outside of the UK.
The FCDO is in direct contact with the ship and British nationals on board and has stood up consular teams across multiple countries to support British nationals.
UK government is working very closely with international partners in response to this incident, including the cruise ship operator and the governments of UK overseas territories which were visited by the ship.
UK government teams are working at pace to get medical support to all affected Overseas Territories.
The Ministry of Defence has worked with UKHSA to provide vital diagnostic supplies, including PCR tests, which were delivered to Ascension Island via a military plane on 7 May.
The risk to the general public remains very low.
Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Officer at UKHSA, said:
''This is an evolving situation, and we are working closely with partners to support British Nationals on board the MV Hondius.
''The risk to the general population remains very low and the public can be reassured that established infection control measures will be put in place at every step of the journey to ensure the safe repatriation of British passengers on board.
Further information on the repatriation of British nationals will be provided in due course.
Source:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-update-on-the-hantavirus-cruise-ship-outbreak
_____
No comments:
Post a Comment