Brit combating cruise ship virus named as two isolate in UK after fleeing ship
A British man battling the deadly hantavirus has been pictured for the first time as those aboard the ship shaken by the rat-borne disease slowly flee the cruise ship
Martin Anstee, 56
One of the British passengers struck down by the cruise ship hantavirus was last night named as former police officer Martin Anstee.
The 56-year-old – who is also an expedition guide – was identified as one of the first Brits evacuated from the MV Hondius. Martin is one of three suspected hantavirus patients who were removed from the ship and touched down in the Netherlands for treatment on Wednesday.
Currently more than 20 Brits aboard the ship are awaiting transferral and face quarantined for a maximum of eight weeks. Mr Anstee’s wife, Nicola, has revealed she has been enduring a “very traumatic few days’ since her husband fell ill.
Speaking to the Telegraph Nicola said: “The fear with this virus is it can deteriorate very quickly so it’s been a bit up and down for him. “I don’t believe he’s in imminent danger now, but it was horrible.”
Ms Anstee, who first heard her husband was sick on Sunday, said it was a “relief” he was off the cruise ship and now in the Netherlands getting treatment.
She added his symptoms had at first been “quite mild” but then became “more serious.”
Her comments came as two Brits aboard the cruise ship hit with the deadly rat-borne virus have touched down in the UK and are now self-isolating at home.. Currently neither individuals are reporting symptoms despite being classified as “close contacts” of infected passengers.
The UK Health Security Agency has said the evacuated Brits who are currently isolating in the UK from the ship pose “a very low risk” to the general public.
A UK Health Security Agency spokesman said: “They are receiving advice and support from UKHSA and have been advised to self-isolate. UKHSA are supporting a small number of individuals identified as close contacts of those on the boat. “They are being offered support and are also self-isolating. None are reporting any symptoms. The risk to the general public remains very low.” The UK Government is putting “plans in place” to rescue Brits stuck aboard the virus infested cruise ship. In a statement released on X, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “My thoughts are with those affected by the hantavirus outbreak onboard the MV Hondius. “We are working closely with international partners to support British nationals on board, and we’re putting plans in place for their safe onward travel.
“The risk to the wider public remains very low – protecting the British people is our number one priority.”
The WHO has confirmed seven suspected cases of the virus on the MV Hondius cruise ship Amongst the infected another Brit, a 69-year old man has been taken to Johannesburg, South Africa and is being treated in intensive care.
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