Public Health Wales monitoring Welsh residents linked to MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak
A small number of Welsh residents linked to a hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship are being checked daily by Public Health Wales.
Three passengers from the MV Hondius have died, two of whom were confirmed to have had the virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed nine cases of hantavirus linked to the ship, with two others suspected.
An American and a French national who had previously returned home have also tested positive, authorities said.
All the Welsh residents are well and showing no symptoms, the public health body said.
Twenty-two passengers and crew from the ship have been isolating at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral.
That group includes 20 British nationals, a German national who is a UK resident, and a Japanese passenger.
Six people who have tested negative after 72 hours at the hospital are now returning home or to suitable accommodation to complete a 45-day isolation period.
The remaining 16 are also asymptomatic and have tested negative for the virus, but will continue isolating at Arrowe Park.
People who had been isolating at home or elsewhere in England have also been transferred to the hospital for assessment.
Public Health Wales said: “We are supporting a small number of Welsh residents linked with the hantavirus outbreak. Individuals will receive regular precautionary testing and a daily assessment for the duration of their self-isolation.”
No cases of hantavirus have been reported in Wales, and the agency said the risk to the general public remains very low.
The outbreak has been identified as Andes hantavirus, a strain rarely transmitted between people.
Andes hantavirus is classed as a high consequence infectious disease by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
UKHSA said the virus is not usually transmissible between people and that close, prolonged contact is needed for it to pass between individuals.
The MV Hondius arrived in waters off Cape Verde on 3 May and reached Tenerife on 10 May.
British nationals were flown back to Manchester Airport on the same day on a dedicated flight, then taken by private coach to Arrowe Park.
Public Health Wales said: “If any of them display symptoms of hantavirus, there are robust arrangements in place to ensure they are given urgent medical attention.”
The agency is working with Welsh Government, UKHSA, Welsh health boards and local authorities on the response.
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