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His Majesty’s Customs and Immigration Services would like to advise the public on the following office closure:
Thursday 07 May between 08:30 – 16:00, for container movement (closed to the public and merchants but the enquiry desk will be open).
During the closures, the office reception will be available for Customs and Immigration enquiries on telephone 22287 or on email cienquiries@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Business will resume on Friday 08 May at 09:00.
The public are thanked in advance for their understanding and cooperation and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
The public is advised that the Health and Social Care (HSC) Portfolio continues to respond to the hantavirus situation linked to the expedition vessel MV Hondius, which visited St Helena from 22 to 24 April 2026. We are working closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and international partners to assess and manage the situation.
Globally, there have been three deaths reported, two of which have been confirmed as infected with hantavirus. There are a further four people with suspected hantavirus infection around the world, all of whom remain in a stable condition. Definitive information on the specific type of hantavirus associated with this incident is awaited from our international partners.
On St Helena, there are currently no people with suspected hantavirus infection. All higher risk contacts identified to date have received daily verbal contact from a doctor, including instruction on the need to self-isolate at home. People living in the same household as higher risk contacts do not need to self-isolate. All lower risk contacts have been issued with an information letter and actions to take should they develop symptoms.
Further written guidance for those in isolation is being developed in partnership with experts at the UKHSA and will be issued tomorrow, 6 May. This includes information on the necessary period for isolation. Additional support for those in isolation is being coordinated by HSC.
The risk to the wider community remains low. Everyday social contact, for example in shops, workplaces, schools or public spaces, is not considered a known risk for spreading hantavirus. In the rare instances of person-to-person spread, the main risk is close and prolonged contact with someone who is unwell.
New Hantavirus Screening Line
If you had close contact with passengers or crew, or boarded the MV Hondius during its visit, please call the new Hantavirus Screening Line on Tele No: 25949 if you develop symptoms or are worried you may have been exposed.
Possible symptoms include:
- fatigue, fever and muscle aches
- headache, dizziness and chills
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain
- later, symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Please do not attend the hospital in person without first being screened by telephone. This helps protect patients, staff and the wider public by ensuring the right clinical advice and infection prevention measures are in place before any face-to-face assessment.
People who have not had any contact with the passengers or crew and have not boarded the MV Hondius should seek healthcare in the usual way if required.
Following the screening call, a clinician will review the information provided. If a face-to-face assessment is needed, the ambulance service will attend to assess the person safely and arrange further care. This reduces the risk of anyone who may be infectious attending the hospital without the correct precautions in place.
In a medical emergency, including severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, collapse or serious deterioration, call 999 immediately and tell the call handler that you may have had contact linked to the MV Hondius.
The public are thanked for their continued support and cooperation. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
#StHelena #Hantavirus #MVHondius
Following notification from Connect Saint Helena Limited, the St Helena Resilience Forum (SHRF), are pleased to advise that power has been restored to all affected areas on Feeder 5 which included Nosegay Lane, the Post Office, Museum Car Park, the Terrace, the Wharf, and Lower Shy Road.
Nosegay Lane and the Post Office will be reconnected shortly using a mobile generator, with repair work on this faulty section recommencing tomorrow, 6 May.
In addition, power issues experienced today on Feeder 1, affecting Jamestown from Market Street to China Lane and Ladder Hill, have now been resolved.
We would like to thank affected residents and businesses in the affected areas and the public for their patience and understanding during this time.
#StHelena #Power outage #SHRF
The St Helena Resilience Forum (SHRF), together with key stakeholders including Connect Saint Helena Ltd and local businesses, met this morning, 05 May 2026, to review the situation relating to the power outage affecting residents and businesses in Lower Jamestown, and to confirm contingency arrangements and next steps.
The public are assured that, following the unscheduled power outage yesterday evening, 04 May 2026, support has been provided to those affected residents and businesses who required assistance.
Further updates will be published on the SHG website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/st-helena/news/ and via SHG social media channels.
#StHelena #Power outage #SHRF
St Helena Port Control has approved the temporary closure of the Rupert’s Cargo Management Facility (RCMF) and the Jetty on Thursday, 7 May 2026 from 08:00 – 17:00.
This closure will allow the Cargo Management Team to relocate empty containers closer to the Jetty in preparation for backloading of the next voyage of the MV Karoline.
To ensure this operation is carried out safely, the RCMF will operate under Access Level 3 during this period. Entry will be restricted to authorised persons who have made prior arrangements with Port Control.
Minister for Education, Skills and Employment, Andrew Turner, will be attending the Education World Forum 2026 in London. Minister Turner is scheduled to depart the island on 10 May and will return on 23 May 2026.
Minister Turner will join education and training ministers from around the world, alongside key multilateral organisations and industry partners, to explore how education can be reimagined to unlock opportunities for growth. Throughout the forum’s plenary sessions and workshops, he will engage with four interlinked themes: peace, planet, purpose, and pathways.
The Education World Forum underscores that education is central to navigating these intersecting challenges, equipping learners with the values needed to build sustainable societies.
Beyond the formal forum programme, Minister Turner will hold a series of bilateral meetings with officials to discuss strategic partnerships and explore solutions tailored to the island’s specific educational needs.
During the Minister’s absence, the Portfolio for Education, Skills and Employment will be overseen by the Minister for Safety, Security and Home Affairs, Gillian Brooks.
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#StHelena #EducationWorldForum #EWF2026
The public are advised that the Health and Social Care Portfolio have become aware of an evolving situation regarding a severe illness, affecting several passengers on the expedition vessel MV Hondius which recently visited St Helena between 22-24 April 2026.
The suspected cause is hantavirus, which is usually spread through contact with infected rodents, but may eventually pass from person-to-person. Symptoms can include fever, extreme fatigue (feeling more tired than usual), muscle aches, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or shortness of breath. Some people may develop severe breathing difficulty requiring hospital care.
Two passengers with minor symptoms came ashore and may have had some contact with members of our local community.
While the virus can be serious, no cases of this illness have been identified in St Helena and there is no significant cause for concern on the island at this time.
Public Health is working closely with the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and other international partners to assess and manage the situation. A small number of people who travelled to St Helena on the MV Hondius or had very close contact with those who were showing symptoms, are being advised by Public Health to undertake a period of self-isolation as a precaution. St Helena Government (SHG) will provide full support to those who are asked to do so. A full risk-based contact tracing process is underway to identify and notify such persons.
The risk to the wider community is low and no additional precautions are necessary at this time. However out of the abundance of caution, should you experience a significant fever (>38°C), then you should contact the hospital on tele No 22500 for advice, but please DO NOT attend in person at the first instance.
For frequently asked questions about hantavirus, please visit: Hantavirus FAQ’s
The public are thanked for their support and cooperation during this time. Further updates will be provided on a regular basis.
#StHelena #Hantavirus #MVHondius
Please be advised that the main Scotland Office will close tomorrow, 01 May 2026, at 14:00. This is to allow essential works to be carried out.
If the Livestock and Forestry services are required during this time, the Livestock Section can be contacted on 26162 and the Forestry Section on 65394.
The public are advised that Environmental Health and Public Health are continuing to investigate the recent outbreak of scombroid fish poisoning.
In total, 20 human cases of probable scombroid poisoning have been reported to date. This is likely to be an underestimation due to unreported cases. None of these cases have required hospitalisation and all affected have made a full recovery.
The majority of reported cases occurred between late March and mid-April following the consumption of tuna mince. No further cases have been found to have occurred since the release of the public announcement on 16 April, requesting the public to avoid consuming products or meals containing tuna mince.
Tuna mince processed by the Saints Tuna Corporation (STC) between 17and 23 March was found to be one possible source. STC were instructed to recall all tuna mince processed between 12and 27 March as a precautionary measure.
A thorough investigation of the food chain, including interviews and site inspections, has not identified a single point of failure but rather several areas for improvement in maintaining the cold chain. Recommendations will be issued to the relevant industry stakeholders and follow-up visits are planned to ensure compliance.
An increased level of monitoring of future batches, for both local market sales and export consignments, will be undertaken to ensure the ongoing safety of tuna and tuna mince products.
Advice to the public
Tuna mince labelled as processed by STC between 12and 27 March 2026 can still be returned to the place of purchase for issuance of a refund. All other tuna products can be considered safe to eat.
However, the public are requested to continue to report any adverse reactions after eating tuna to Environmental Health at eh.office.@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Food safety reminders
- Take chilled and frozen foods straight home for refrigeration or freezing.
- Use a cooler bag with ice packs when transporting refrigerated or frozen goods.
- Keep frozen and chilled items together during transport.
- Defrost frozen items in the refrigerator.
- Cook defrosted food promptly once thawed.
- Refrigerate or freeze leftovers promptly after cooking.
About histamine fish poisoning
Also known as scombroid poisoning, histamine fish poisoning occurs following the consumption of certain types of fish that have been improperly stored after capture, or during subsequent handling, processing, retail distribution or home preparation.
Symptoms usually occur within approximately 10–60 minutes and include facial flushing (redness), headache, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhoea. It can also cause a sharp, metallic, or peppery taste while eating, along with a burning or tingling sensation on the tongue.
The condition is not life-threatening and usually settles on its own within 4–6 hours. Oral antihistamines can be taken to help treat the symptoms at home.
More serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, blurred vision, tongue swelling or fainting are unlikely and suggest a different diagnosis, such as an allergic reaction. People experiencing these symptoms after consuming fish should seek immediate medical attention.
#StHelena #HistamineFishPoisoning #Investigation
HM Customs & Immigration Services would like to advise the public that reduced services will be in place on Wednesday 29 April 2026.
The offices at Liberation House, Ruperts will be closed to the public on this day. However, merchant cargo will continue to be released as normal
In the event of an emergency, officers may be contacted on the following numbers:
Customs matters – 67652
Immigration matters – 51442
Normal operations will resume on Thursday, 30 April from 09:00.
The public are thanked in advance for their understanding and cooperation and apologise for any inconvenience caused.