A former British police officer evacuated from the Cape Verde-bound vessel that fell victim to an outbreak of hantavirus has been named.
The outbreak, which has so far claimed three lives and left several others infected, emerged aboard the MV Hondius on Saturday.
Martin Anstee, a 56-year-old expedition guide, was one of the three patients evacuated from the vessel on Wednesday morning.
He was airlifted off the ship and is currently in a stable condition at Amsterdam Hospital, after what his wife described as a "very traumatic few days".
The three passengers who have died from the outbreak have been identified as a Dutch couple, aged 70 and 69, and a German national.
More than 20 British passengers are among some 150 from 23 nations trapped on board, stranded off the coast of Cape Verde.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) believes the virus may have spread directly between passengers on board the vessel, which is unusual for a disease typically transmitted through rodent urine, droppings and saliva.
Mr Anstee was evacuated alongside a 41-year-old Dutch man serving as the ship’s doctor, and a 65-year-old German passenger.
Martin Anstee was among three patients evacuated on Wednesday
|Speaking to Sky News, the former police officer of 33 years said: “I’m doing okay. 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.”
Mr Anstee and his wife Nicola live in Milton Keynes – both of whom served as police officers in the Bedfordshire and Essex forces.
The pair moved to the Falkland Islands in 2019, where Mr Anstee began working for Oceanwide Expeditions, becoming one of several expedition crew members on board the stranded ship.
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He had been guiding passengers around remote islands where the cruise stopped, including South Georgia, Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha and St Helena.
Before setting off, he had posted on Facebook the cruise was “one of the most fascinating trips you can be involved in”.
His wife Nicola told The Telegraph: “I don’t believe he’s in imminent danger now, but it was horrible. The family are relieved that he’s off the Hondius and on his way for treatment in Holland in a specialised unit.
“We’re just glad the authorities managed to get to Cape Verde to evacuate them, so it’s just relief at the moment.
A Dutch couple, aged 70 and 69, were the first fatalities from the outbreak | GETTY“It’s a shame because he’s very passionate about this role and I just hope he recovers and can go back to it. He really enjoys it.”
The WHO has now confirmed seven suspected cases among those aboard the stricken vessel, working to track down passengers who shared a flight with the Dutch woman before her death.
The WHO stated: "Contact tracing for passengers has been initiated."
Cape Verde authorities previously refused to permit the ship to dock at the Port of Praia, citing the need to protect public health.
Hantavirus infections carry a mortality rate of approximately 40 per cent, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.
Symptoms typically emerge between two and four weeks following exposure, although this window can extend from two days to eight weeks, raising concerns that additional passengers may fall ill in the coming period.
Early warning signs include fatigue, fever, muscle pain and severe headaches, with cases potentially progressing to serious respiratory illness or haemorrhagic disease.
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