Top News

Fears are growing that hantavirus could be traced in seven countries as a British tourist remains unaccounted for after leaving the cruise trip early. The rat-borne disease has been spread on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which took off from Argentina's port town of Ushuaia on April 1.

Since then, passengers and travellers exposed to them have been tracked to the US, the UK, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Turkey. The first cases of the deadly virus are believed to have come from a Dutch couple, who have both since died, after they went birdwatching at a landfill site before boarding the cruise.

Argentine investigators believe the 69-year-old pair, who have not been named, could have been exposed to rodents carrying the infection.

The cruise ship is now on its way to the Canary Islands following a stop at Cape Verde, with five of the eight suspected hantavirus cases confirmed.

A total of 19 British nationals were recorded as passengers aboard the MV Hondius, alongside four British crew members. Two British nationals have since been medically evacuated, including crew member Martin Anstee, 56.

The expedition guide and former police officer was airlifted from the vessel on Wednesday and flown to the Netherlands to receive specialist medical treatment.

Speaking from hospital, he told Sky News: "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 told the Telegraph it had been "a very traumatic few days". She added: "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. I don't believe he's in imminent danger now but it was horrible."

A spokesperson for the UK Health Security Agency confirmed to The Mirror that of the seven Brits, two are now self-isolating back in the UK, four remain in St Helena, and efforts to locate the seventh person are continuing.

They said: "We are aware of seven British Nationals who disembarked the ship at St Helena on April 24. Two of these individuals are now self-isolating in the UK while the others have not yet returned.

"Four of these individuals remain in St Helena and we are in touch with the relevant health officials to provide advice on contact management. Tracing efforts are ongoing for the seventh individual, who we know has not yet returned to the UK.