Two vials of hantavirus went missing from lab two years ago

2 hours ago 7

Test tubes labelled "Hantavirus positive" in this illustration taken May 7, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Some vials of hantavirus disappeared in 2024 (Picture: Reuters)

Two vials of hantavirus went missing from an Australian lab two years before the outbreak on MV Hondius.

Out of the 300 vials which went missing in 2024, two contained the hantavirus which has left three dead in the last two weeks.

At the time the disappearance was put down to transferring them to a new freezer, but an investigation found they were probably destroyed rather than stolen.

The disease has proved deadly over the last few days following an outbreak on MV Hondius.

Follow our hantavirus live blog for the latest news on the outbreak

A husband and wife, both 69, had developed the rodent-bourne virus and brought it aboard the ship after visiting the city of Ushuaia, Argentina.

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The pair, from Denmark, are believed to have visited a landfill site during the birdwatching trip and may have been exposed to rodents carrying the deadly infection.

@metrouk

Argentine authorities say a Dutch couple, who later died, may have caught the virus during a birdwatching trip near Ushuaia argentina, where they visited a landfill and were potentially exposed to infected rodents before boarding the ship. The virus is the Andes strain, which is the only hantavirus strain known to spread between humans through close contact. The WHO says the overall risk remains low, but the situation is still being closely monitored. 🎥 @zofia_louise #hantavirus #virus #worldhealthorganization #worldnews

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The husband died on April 11 after suffering with flu symptoms for five days, and his body went ashore at Saint Helena on April 24 alongside his wife.

His wife then fell ill 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 and has 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 expert birdwatching guide.

He told Sky News from hospital in the Netherlands: ‘I’m doing OK. I’m not feeling too bad. There are still lots of tests to be done.

‘I have no idea how long I’ll be in the hospital for. I’m in isolation at the moment.’

How many Brits have been affected by hantavirus?

Three British nationals are confirmed or suspected of having hantavirus One is being treated in South Africa, one is being treated in the Netherlands and the other is being treated in Trista da Cunha Seven Brits disembarked the ship at St Helena following the first death. Four remain there and have been located Two Brits who disembarked have been located in the UK and are self-isolating One person has not yet been traced

His wife Nicola told the Telegraph it had been ‘a very 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 can deteriorate very quickly so it’s been a bit up and down for him.

‘I don’t believe he’s in imminent danger now but it was horrible.’

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