Two vials of hantavirus went missing from an Australian lab two years before the recent outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius.
Out of the 300 vials that went missing in 2024, two contained the hantavirus, which causes the condition that has left three dead within the last two weeks.
On the time, it was thought the disappearance happened when the vials were being transferred to a brand new freezer.
But an investigation found they were probably destroyed somewhat than stolen.The vials usually are not connected with probably the most recent outbreak.
The disease has made headlines in recent days after multiple passengers aboard the cruise ship contracted symptoms of the illness.
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A husband and wife, each 69, had developed the rodent-borne virus and brought it aboard the ship after visiting town of Ushuaia, Argentina.
The pair, from the Netherlands, are believed to have visited a landfill site during a birdwatching trip and could have been exposed to rodents carrying the deadly infection.
The husband died on April 11 after reporting flu-like symptoms, which he suffered for five days. His body was taken ashore at Saint Helena on April 24, where his wife also disembarked.
She then fell in poor health and died in Johannesburg on April 26. A German national also died on the ship on May 2.
A British crew member who was evacuated from the ship with symptoms of the virus has been named as Martin Anstree.
The 56-year-old is a former police officer turned wildlife photographer and was on board as an authority birdwatching guide.
He told Sky News from the hospital within the Netherlands where he’s receiving treatment: ‘I’m doing OK. I’m not feeling too bad. There are still a number of tests to be done.
‘I do not know how long I’ll be within the hospital for. I’m in isolation in the intervening time.’
What number of Brits have been affected by hantavirus?
- Three British nationals are confirmed or suspected of getting hantavirus
- One is being treated in South Africa, one is being treated within the Netherlands and the opposite is being treated in Trista da Cunha
- Seven Brits disembarked the ship at St Helena following the primary death. 4 remain there and have been positioned
- Two Brits who disembarked have been positioned within the UK and are self-isolating
- One person has not yet been traced
His wife Nicola told the Telegraph it had been ‘a really traumatic few days’.
She added: ‘He’s relieved to be off the ship. He had it quite mild, then it got a bit more serious, and now he’s stable again.
‘The fear with this virus is it might deteriorate in a short time, so it’s been a bit up and down for him.
‘I don’t imagine he’s in imminent danger now, however it was horrible.’
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