British expedition guide with hantavirus has ‘no idea how long I’ll be in hospital for’ after cruise ship outbreak
A British hantavirus patient quarantined in hospital after a dramatic rescue from the cruise ship at the center of the outbreak said he was doing well but still needed further testing.
Martin Anstee, 56, was an expedition guide aboard the MV Hondius, which was struck by the rodent-borne pathogen.
The former police officer is currently in hospital in the Netherlands and told Sky News he has “no idea how long I will be in hospital”.
“I’m currently in isolation,” he added.
But he did not say what symptoms he was experiencing and hopes to “have a clearer picture” towards the end of this week.
The virus is typically spread by rodents through their feces, saliva, and urine, but in rare cases this particular strain, the Andean strain, can spread between humans.
Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA), said it was a “good sign” that the British man being treated in the Netherlands was able to contact his family.
He told BBC Breakfast: “Of course he will be under investigation for some time, but I’m very pleased he’s in hospital now and is getting the treatment he needs.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) said three people have died so far and the number of confirmed hantavirus cases has risen to five.
The UKHSA said people may need to isolate for up to eight weeks but reassured the risk to the public remains “very low”.
According to the UKHSA, two people who were on the ship and returned to the UK have self-isolated but are not showing any symptoms. Another Englishman is in hospital in South Africa.
“There are two UK nationals who left the ship early, of course as is often the case on cruises, with people joining in on some of this. They returned to the UK before this outbreak was detected,” Prof May added.
“But obviously there is a possibility that they may have been exposed to the virus. That’s why we are in contact with them. They have very kindly agreed to self-isolate for the next period.”
“We are of course working very closely with them to monitor them and support them and their families until we have the all-clear. And indeed, we will use that method when the other British nationals on board also return home in a few days.”
Officials investigating the outbreak said a couple’s birding trip in Argentina may explain how the virus got onto the ship. The couple may have been exposed to infected rodents while bird watching at a landfill in Ushuaia.
