British military medics have parachuted onto the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha to assist a British national with suspected hantavirus linked to an outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius.
The British man, who lives on the island, disembarked from the vessel in mid-April before later developing symptoms associated with the virus. According to the World Health Organization, he reported diarrhoea on April 28 and developed a fever two days later. He is currently in stable condition and isolating.
The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has now resulted in six confirmed hantavirus cases and three deaths, including two people confirmed to have contracted the virus.
Hantavirus is carried primarily by rodents. Most strains do not spread between people, but health officials say the Andes strain identified in several passengers from the cruise ship can transmit from person to person.
In response to the medical emergency, a team from the British Army and Royal Air Force launched a rare humanitarian operation to support the isolated island community.
Six paratroopers and two medical clinicians from 16 Air Assault Brigade parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha after flying from RAF Brize Norton aboard an RAF A400M aircraft.
Two of the soldiers completed tandem jumps alongside an intensive care doctor and nurse to reinforce the island’s small medical team, which normally consists of only two healthcare workers.
The UK Ministry of Defence said the operation marked the first time British military personnel have parachuted medical specialists into a humanitarian mission.
Additional oxygen supplies were also air-dropped after stocks on the island reportedly reached critical levels.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper praised the mission, calling it an example of Britain’s commitment to protecting citizens and overseas territories during emergencies.
Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns commended the troops for operating in difficult conditions, noting that Tristan da Cunha experiences strong winds and has no airport, making access extremely challenging.
The remote volcanic archipelago, home to just 221 residents, is considered one of the world’s most isolated inhabited places and can only be reached by sea.
Meanwhile, the MV Hondius has arrived in Tenerife, where more than 100 passengers are being assisted with repatriation efforts.
Two British nationals with confirmed hantavirus infections are currently receiving treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa.
UK health officials said no additional British passengers remaining aboard the ship have reported symptoms, although monitoring continues.
Another two Britons who left the vessel earlier on Saint Helena are voluntarily isolating at home in the UK.
The remaining 22 British passengers are expected to return to Britain on a charter flight and will isolate for 45 days at Arrowe Park Hospital under supervision from the UK Health Security Agency.
Officials said the risk to the wider public remains very low.
