Britons are amongst 23 Hantavirus cruise passengers ‘wandering around’ after being exposed to a deadly ‘rat disease’ following the cruise company’s decision to allow some travellers to disembark the vessel.
At least 23 passengers have already departed the boat and returned home, with reports suggesting one has already fallen ill.
Amongst those who have returned are two Britons.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that two individuals who had been aboard the cruise have returned to Britain and are self-isolating after not displaying any symptoms.
One passenger said: “There are 23 people wandering around there, and until three days ago, no one had contacted them,”
The passenger told Spanish newspaper El Pais: “The Australian went back to Australia, the one from Taiwan to Taiwan, the Americans to all corners of North America. The Englishman to England, the Dutch to their homes… I don’t remember the rest.”
Authorities said that one of those passengers, a Swiss man who returned home with his wife, tested positive for hantavirus on Wednesday.
He was initially admitted to a hospital in Zurich and tested negative for the virus – which can remain dormant for up to eight weeks.
A passenger claimed that the WHO didn’t initiate contacting those who have exited the boat until three days ago, despite the first passenger becoming unwell on April 6.
The WHO stated on Wednesday that Oceanwide Expeditions had emailed former passengers regarding the outbreak, though failed to specify when this communication was dispatched.
“International contact tracing is ongoing.
“Passengers who disembarked from the ship were informed of the hantavirus case by the ships’ operators and asked to report any signs and symptoms,” a WHO spokesperson said.
The UKHSA confirmed it was supporting “a small number of individuals identified as close contacts” of those aboard the vessel.
The body said: “They are being offered support and are also self-isolating. None are reporting any symptoms.
“The risk to the general public remains very low.”
