‘Small number’ of people in Scotland may have had hantavirus case contact

Public Health Scotland (PHS) said it is working to get in touch with “a small number of individuals” who may have had contact with cases.

There are no known cases of hantavirus in Scotland and PHS said the risk to the public is low.

The outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has led to at least 11 reported cases among passengers, including three deaths.

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Nine of the 11 cases are confirmed, with two more probable cases.

PHS said it is working with other agencies to respond to the outbreak.

It said: “PHS and NHS boards in Scotland are working to follow up with a small number of individuals who had potential contact with cases and will remain in close contact with these individuals for up to 45 days from the last potential exposure.

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“Contacts will continue to receive precautionary testing as required, as well as ongoing care and support.

“There are currently no known cases of hantavirus in Scotland and the risk to the general public is very low.”

On Tuesday it was announced that 10 Britons from South Atlantic islands connected to the cruise ship outbreak were to be brought to the UK in case they develop the illness.

The group, thought to be residents of the UK overseas territories of St Helena and Ascension, were being “brought to the UK to complete their self-isolation as a precautionary measure”, the UK Health Security Agency said.