90-Second Read: Small number of people in Scotland linked to Hantavirus outbreak

A small number of people in Scotland have been linked to the Hantavirus outbreak, according to the national public health body. There are currently no known cases of Hantavirus in Scotland and the risk to the general public is very low, PHS said. The head of the UN health agency previously said there was "no sign" of a larger Hantavirus outbreak. There are no known cases of the virus in Scotland and the risk to public is very low, Public Health Scotland says.

Three people died on the voyage and nine cases confirmed by tests have been identified. Scientists at the Centre for Virus Research (CVR) have already received samples from about 20 people who were on the ship. Unfortunately it took quite a long period of time before the first case and the [Hantavirus] diagnosis, around about a month. In total, 22 passengers and crew had been isolating at the Merseyside hospital, the rest will remain but are asymptomatic and have tested negative for the virus.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) said it will remain in close contact with those who have been exposed to the virus and will continue precautionary testing, as well as ongoing care and support. The health body said it is working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS boards in Scotland to "take appropriate action". Samples from those who have been contacted by health authorities will be sent to a high security lab in Glasgow for analysis. If we had someone in hospital with a severe respiratory infection, high fever and we didn't know the cause, it would be possible for us to sequence a virus within a matter of three or four hours, even a previously unknown virus.

Researchers at the CVR are now looking at blood and nasal samples from passengers, crew and traced contacts. We have learned things from the pandemic, particularly around the benefit of repurposing known drugs to treat infections. Thomson said it is a similar situation to six years ago but this virus poses a lower risk.