British Army paratroopers and medical personnel parachuted onto the remote island of Tristan da Cunha to treat a British national suspected of having hantavirus. The mission, the first of its kind, involved airdropping oxygen and medical supplies to the island, which lacks an airstrip and is accessible only by boat.
The patient, a British man who lives on the island, disembarked from the cruise ship MV Hondius in mid-April. He reported symptoms on April 28 and is currently in stable condition while isolating. The island, home to just 221 people, has limited medical resources, with only two doctors and four nurses available.
The operation was conducted by six paratroopers and two military clinicians from the 16 Air Assault Brigade. They jumped from an RAF A400M transport aircraft that flew from RAF Brize Norton to Ascension Island before reaching Tristan da Cunha. The mission was supported by an RAF Voyager for mid-flight refueling.
The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius has resulted in six confirmed cases, including three deaths. The Andes strain of the virus, which can spread between people, was identified in several cases. The cruise ship has since arrived in Tenerife, where authorities are assisting passengers in disembarking and repatriating.
Tristan da Cunha, located in the South Atlantic, is one of the world's most remote inhabited islands. The island's medical team typically consists of just two people, and the airdrop was deemed necessary due to critical oxygen supply levels. The operation marks the first time the UK military has deployed medical personnel via parachute for humanitarian support.