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UK deploys medics to Tristan da Cunha amid hantavirus outbreak
A team of British Army medics has parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha, one of the world's most isolated islands, to assist a resident infected with suspected hantavirus. The patient, a British national, fell ill weeks after disembarking from the virus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius.
Patient's condition and island response
The man, who lives on the remote South Atlantic island, reported symptoms-including diarrhea and fever-on April 28, two weeks after leaving the cruise ship. He is currently in stable condition and isolating, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Tristan da Cunha, home to just 221 people, lacks an airstrip and relies solely on boat access. Harsh weather, with average winds exceeding 25 mph, complicated the military operation, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
Military airdrop delivers critical supplies
Six paratroopers and two medical clinicians from 16 Air Assault Brigade parachuted onto the island's golf course on Saturday, marking the UK's first such humanitarian deployment of medical personnel. The team included an intensive care nurse and doctor, bolstering the island's usual two-person medical staff.
An RAF A400M aircraft also dropped 3.3 tonnes of medical supplies after island stocks reached "critical levels," the MoD confirmed. Residents were praised for their rapid preparations to welcome the team.
Outbreak details and global response
Six hantavirus cases have been confirmed among passengers and crew of the MV Hondius, including two Britons receiving treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa. Three people have died in the outbreak, two of whom tested positive for hantavirus.
The Andes strain of the virus, which can spread between humans, was identified among those infected. Most hantaviruses are rodent-borne and do not transmit person-to-person, but this strain poses a rare exception.
Repatriation efforts underway
The cruise ship arrived in Tenerife on Sunday, where authorities are assisting over 100 passengers-including 22 British nationals-with disembarkation and repatriation. The UK group will be flown to Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside for a 45-day isolation period, monitored by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Two additional Britons, who left the ship earlier at St Helena, are self-isolating at home in the UK. No other British passengers on the Hondius have reported symptoms, but all remain under observation.
Officials praise military precision
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper lauded the operation as a demonstration of the UK's commitment to its overseas territories. "The safety and well-being of all British nationals is our top priority," she said.
"This mission faced incredibly challenging circumstances. I pay tribute to our personnel for their professionalism under pressure."
Al Carns, Minister for the Armed Forces
The MoD emphasized that the risk to the public remains very low.
