Urgent probe launched as multiple people in Scotland found with links to hantavirus outbreak

A small number of Britons have been linked to the hantavirus outbreak, public health officials have revealed.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) has said a number of people have been linked to the virus, which broke out on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius.

It said it was "working to follow up with a small number of individuals who had potential contact with cases" alongside the NHS.

The health body will remain in close contact with those exposed to the virus and continue precautionary testing.

There are currently no known cases of the rare strain of hantavirus in Scotland and risk to the public remains low, PHS said.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS Boards in Scotland are working with the authority to "take appropriate action".

A high security lab in Glasgow has analysed 20 samples from people contacted by health authorities.

The Centre for Virus Research (CVR) is now looking into potential treatments and how the virus has spread.

Professor Emma Thomson told the BBC the symptoms were "classically of respiratory illness" and were similar to a "severe influenza infection or COVID-19".

She added: "Unfortunately, the consequences of the Andes strain can be very severe, and one in three people might be expected to die.

"So that makes it a very serious infection and that's why we need ongoing research to look for new treatments and vaccines."

Passengers and crew were evacuated from the MV Hondius and placed in quarantine at Arrow Park Hospital in Wirral for 72 hours.

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