Seven Brits left ship after virus outbreak

Hunt for passengers who got off the MV Hondius cruise liner following first death

- BY LUCY THORNTON

SEVEN British guests on the hantavirus-hit cruise ship left the doomed “trip of a lifetime" after the first passenger died.

They were among 29 guests to leave the MV Hondius at St Helena on April 24. The body of a Dutch man, 69, who had died 13 days earlier, was also taken off the vessel.

Two of the Brits are isolating in the UK but the others' status is unknown.

Three guests have died following the outbreak and a Brit, aged 69, has been in intensive care in South Africa after testing positive.

A World Health Organisation expert insisted that the outbreak is not expected to be an epidemic.

Dr Abdirahman Mahamud said: "With experience our member states have, and the actions they have taken, we believe that this will not lead to subsequent chain of transmission." On Wednesday, three people were medically evacuated, including 56-year-old British ex-police officer Martin Anstee, and a Dutch crew member aged 41.