A medic who developed hantavirus symptoms after returning from a remote British overseas territory is being treated in a London hospital.
Nine other Britons connected with the MV Hondius ship outbreak were also expected to arrive in the UK on Sunday evening.
The nine people, who arrived from St Helena and Ascension Island, both British overseas territories, may have been exposed to hantavirus but are not currently experiencing symptoms.
The UK Health Security Agency confirmed that the Britons were expected to arrive last night.
The medic is being cared for at the High Consequence Infectious Diseases unit in Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust and has been there since Saturday.
The group will be transported to Arrowe Park Hospital in the Wirral, where they will complete their self-isolation, supported by the HCID network, should they become unwell.
The Andes strain of the virus has so far killed three people, a Dutch couple and a German national, following its outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
The virus, which is usually spread by rodents, can be transmitted between people in rare situations.
The nine Britons will be self-isolating at Arrowe Park Hospital
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Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director at UKHSA, said: “UKHSA will continue to work with our partners locally, nationally and internationally to ensure everyone has the necessary support in place.
“We are undertaking safe repatriation of those affected by the outbreak where appropriate, incorporating medical checks and support, with the latest flight arriving tonight.
“We are committed to keeping these passengers and the wider population safe and will remain in close contact with them as they complete their self-isolation period.”
In Late April, a group of 29 people, including seven Britons, disembarked from the MV Hondius at St Helena.
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The group of Britons will be cared for at Arrowe Park Hospital
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Four Britons self-isolated on the island, while two flew back to the UK to complete their self-isolation at home. The final Briton was a dual-national who chose to return to their other home country.
Twenty British passengers and crew from the cruise ship were previously isolated at Arrowe Park Hospital after being flown from Tenerife to Manchester Airport.
The medic was brought to the UK from Ascension Island for “specialised assessment” after developing symptoms, in what the UKHSA described as a “highly precautionary measure.”
On Saturday, the UKHSA confirmed: “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 an HCID unit should they become unwell.
“The individual will undergo further testing and assessment at the unit.”
On Saturday, one person left Arrowe Park Hospital to complete their 45-day isolation at home, after a clinical and public health assessment deemed it was safe.
A further six people returned home to do the same on Thursday.
The UKHSA confirmed that anyone isolating at home is being closely monitored.
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