LONDON, May 9 — The UK health security agency said yesterday a new suspected case ‌of hantavirus was identified in a British national on the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, as authorities continue efforts to track down ‌passengers from the affected luxury cruise ship and their close contacts.

The ship, MV Hondius, stopped on the island on April 15.

One of world’s most remote islands

The island, the only inhabited one of a remote volcanic archipelago, is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. As of May 2026, 216 people lived on its only settlement, Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, largely descended from a ‌handful of 19th-century settlers.

It is widely regarded as one ⁠of the world’s most remote inhabited ⁠islands. The nearest inhabited land, St ⁠Helena, is about 2,400km away, while ⁠South Africa lies about 2,800km to the east.

Since there are no airstrips, the only way to reach the island is ⁠by sea, with ships departing from Cape Town roughly 10 times a year.

Small, communal economy

According to the archipelago’s administration website, Tristan da Cunha’s economy is based on subsistence farming and fishing, the sale of postage stamps and coins and, to ⁠a lesser extent, tourism.

Tourism centres on nature-based excursions, such as hikes around Queen Mary’s Peak volcano, whose 1961 eruption forced ⁠the temporary evacuation of the entire population to the United Kingdom.

The society ⁠is based ⁠on equality principles. All land is communally owned, and stock levels are tightly regulated to preserve grazing land and prevent wealth disparities among households. ‌Foreigners are not allowed to buy land or settle permanently on the island. — Reuters

LONDON, May 8 — A third British national has been diagnosed with suspected hantavirus linked to a cruise ship outbreak, health officials said today.

The “additional suspected case of a British national” was on the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

Two other British nationals remain in hospital in the Netherlands and South Africa following the outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship.

“None of the British citizens onboard are currently reporting symptoms, but they are being closely monitored,” the agency said.

The ship is expected to dock in Tenerife on Sunday, and government officials will be on the ground to help British nationals disembarking.

The Foreign Office is chartering “a dedicated repatriation flight” for British ship passengers and crew only.

“This flight will be free of charge,” the agency added.

The British passengers will have to isolate for 45 days once they return to the UK, and will be closely monitored and tested by the agency. — AFP