A woman is isolating on the remote Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Pacific, after having contact with someone exposed to hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. Local officials confirm she is asymptomatic and the risk to the public remains low.
The woman traveled from San Francisco on May 7, transiting through Tahiti and Mangareva in French Polynesia before reaching Pitcairn. The French Polynesian government says she did not notify authorities of her transit.
The MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged ship, has been linked to three deaths and nine confirmed hantavirus cases, with two more suspected. The outbreak involves the Andes strain of the virus, which can transmit between humans. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and shortness of breath.
The UK Foreign Office is coordinating with the Pitcairn government and UK Health Security Agency. The isolation period for close contacts is 45 days. The woman remains on Pitcairn, which has a population of about 50, mostly descendants of HMS Bounty mutineers.
French Polynesia has barred her from re-entering as long as she poses a risk.