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Discussions between the St Helena Government (SHG) and the Government of the United Kingdom (UKG) regarding the extension of the existing Memorandum of Understanding relating to the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) have progressed positively.

While agreement has substantially been reached, final matters remain subject to confirmation before formal communications can be issued. All parties continue to work constructively to conclude the process as quickly as possible.

We now expect to provide a further update early next week.  Thank you  for your patience and understanding while these complex discussions have been taking place.

#StHelena #BIOT #Agreement

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The St Helena Government (SHG) is providing its final daily update for the week regarding the hantavirus response, as local and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) teams continue their coordinated efforts across the Territory.

Pre-emptive Relocations Scheduled

Following specialised risk assessments, the planned, pre-emptive relocation of higher-risk individuals to the UK is scheduled to go ahead this weekend. Please note that these movements remain subject to weather conditions.  Four individuals currently on St Helena and five individuals on Ascension Island will be relocated to the UK to complete their isolation periods near specialised medical care.

None of the individuals scheduled for relocation are currently showing symptoms of illness, and these transfers are being undertaken purely as a pre-emptive and precautionary measure.

Financial Support for Self-Isolating Individuals

To assist those impacted by public health measures, SHG will provide financial support to eligible individuals identified as higher-risk contacts who are required to self-isolate for 45 days. This scheme is specifically designed for people formally instructed by SHG Public Health to isolate at home who cannot work, resulting in a loss of income. Eligible applicants may receive support payments of up to £160 per week during their isolation period. These payments will be made weekly, and the first payment will be backdated to the start of the individual’s isolation.

Eligible individuals will be contacted directly by SHG with further details on the scheme and instructions on how to access it. Please note that employees who continue to receive their normal salary from their employer during this period (including SHG employees) are not eligible, as they have experienced no loss of income.

Adjustment to Communications Schedule

As the initial phase of the incident response stabilises and our enhanced on-island capabilities are established, the frequency of routine public updates will decrease. For the following week, information will be shared on the following scheduled basis:

The public are reassured that if a situation arises where additional or urgent communications are required, SHG will issue updates accordingly.

Territorial Status and Testing Reminders

Public Information and Guidance

The next routine update will be issued on Monday, 18 May 2026.

The community is thanked for their continued support and is reminded to rely on official SHG channels for verified information. The updated Q&A can be accessed here: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/hantavirus-qa/.

If you had direct contact with the MV Hondius and develop the following symptoms, please contact the Hantavirus Screening Line on 25949 for guidance before attending any medical facility:

#StHelena #PublicHealth #UKHSA #TerritorialUpdate

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The St Helena Resilience Forum (SHRF) have confirmed that the Gold Command structure activated specifically to manage the recent island-wide power outage is standing down today, as the electricity situation is now under control and stable.

St Helena is currently managing two separate major incidents under distinct response structures. While the Gold Command for the power outage is now standing down, a separate Gold Command remains active and focused on managing the hantavirus response.

Connect St Helena Update: Ongoing and Upcoming Works

Although the emergency power response has concluded, Connect Saint Helena Ltd continues essential recovery works on Feeder 3 in the Deadwood area today, Friday 15 May, and tomorrow, Saturday 16 May 2026.

The final transfer of the power supply is planned for Monday, 18 May. To safely complete this work, a planned outage will be required on Feeder 3. Connect Saint Helena Ltd will communicate the exact timing of Monday’s outage to the public as soon as details are finalised.

Gold Commander for the power outage incident, Alex Mitham, expressed his gratitude to the community and the teams who worked around the clock to restore the grid:

“On behalf of this Gold Command, I want to thank every individual involved in getting the island’s electricity back to a stable level. The dedication of the engineers, technicians, and multi-agency partners has been outstanding. We also want to thank the community for their cooperation and patience while we navigated this outage.”

The public are advised to continue monitoring official channels and local radio for specific timing updates regarding Monday’s planned outage on Feeder 3.

#StHelena #EssentialInfrastructure

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The St Helena Government (SHG) continues to coordinate with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and international partners to manage the ongoing response to the hantavirus. Our priority remains the safety of the community through proactive monitoring and clear public information.

Clarity on Hantavirus Testing Capability

Laboratory personnel deployed to St Helena from the UKHSA are currently exploring the feasibility of performing hantavirus testing on-island. It is important to note that testing for this virus involves complex laboratory techniques and is typically performed only in highly specialised facilities; in the United Kingdom, for example, only one such laboratory exists.

Subject to rigorous quality and safety checks, it is hoped that on-island testing will be available by this weekend, though this cannot be guaranteed at this stage. Due to limited supplies, testing will be strictly prioritised for:

Hantavirus testing will not be available on request. It is also important to clarify that a negative test result will not allow a person to exit isolation early. Instead, the testing is intended to provide the earliest possible warning of infection so that appropriate clinical care can begin immediately.

Upcoming Logistics and Relocations

Following recent risk assessments, a flight for the pre-emptive relocation of a small number of higher-risk individuals is scheduled to arrive on Saturday 16 May and depart on Sunday, 17 May 2026 subject to weather. These individuals, who currently show no signs of illness, are being moved to the UK to complete their isolation period in proximity to specialised medical facilities.

Cruise Ship Visit and Maritime Protocols

The cruise ship Azamara Onward, originally travelling from South Africa, is expected to visit St Helena next Tuesday, 19 May. The visit will proceed as normal, with standard maritime health protocols in effect. This includes the mandatory submission of Maritime Declarations of Health and rigorous screening by local officials. Whilst we are sensitive to public concern, it is important to remember that the hantavirus case was a rare and isolated occurrence.

Territorial Status Update

Support for those self-isolating

The Government has agreed a mechanism to support those individuals who are voluntary self-isolating, the details of the support scheme will be announced by the Chief Minister on Friday.

Public Information

The public are encouraged to tune in to the scheduled radio talks tomorrow, Friday, for further updates from Public Health professionals and are reminded to use official SHG channels for the most accurate information. The updated Q&A can be accessed here: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/hantavirus-qa/.

If you had direct contact with the MV Hondius and develop a fever or muscle aches, please call the Hantavirus Screening Line on 25949 immediately for guidance.

#StHelena #PublicHealth #UKHSA #MedicalTesting #MaritimeSafety

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The St Helena Government (SHG) continues to work closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and territorial partners to manage the hantavirus response. Our approach remains cautious, proportionate, and guided by expert medical advice to protect our communities.

Territorial Status Update

Success of SOLAS Medical Evacuation

SHG wishes to highlight the success of a challenging Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) operation yesterday. A patient in critical condition arrived by ship and was successfully transferred to the Jamestown General Hospital.

SHG extends its sincere thanks to the Sea Rescue and Emergency Services teams for their efforts. The extraction of the patient from the vessel was a complex and difficult task, but thanks to the efficiency and professionalism of these teams, the patient was disembarked is now receiving the vital care they need.

This medical evacuation was successfully managed under our established maritime health protocols. While the MV Hondius case is an extremely rare and isolated incident, SHG continues to implement standard operating public health precautions for all visiting vessels. In line with international and local health regulations, all ships must submit a Maritime Declaration of Health (MDH) and are subject to rigorous screening by Customs, Immigration, and Health officials before disembarkation. For further details on st Helena’s Maritime Health Protocols please refer to our updated Q&A https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/hantavirus-qa/.

Cruise Ship Visit

The cruise ship, Azamara Onward, is expected to visit St Helena next Tuesday, 19 May, originally embarking on the voyage from Cape Town, South Africa. The visit will go ahead as normal and established maritime health protocols will be undertaken as per standard practice to ensure the continued safety of our community. While we are sensitive to the concerns of the public following recent events, it is important to note that the hantavirus case was a rare occurrence and an isolated incident. For more information on this please refer to our updated Q&A: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/hantavirus-qa/

Pre-emptive Relocations

Following risk assessments by SHG public health professionals, guided and advised by the UKHSA, SHG is facilitating the pre-emptive relocation of a small group of higher risk individuals over the coming days to ensure they are closer to specialised medical care:

Community Resilience and Preparedness

The arrival of additional personnel and medical kits is a matter of reassurance and does not indicate an increased risk to the general public, which remains very low. All cases identified to date have been passengers on the MV Hondius. The public are gently reminded that the virus does not spread through casual social contact.

Public Information

Daily updates and information radio sessions with Public Health professionals and other senior officials will continue until the end of this week.  Frequency of updates for the following week will be reassessed and advertised accordingly.

The public are reminded to use official SHG channels for the most accurate information. The updated Q&A can be accessed here: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/hantavirus-qa/.

If you had direct contact with the vessel and develop symptoms, please call the Hantavirus Screening Line on 25949.

#StHelena #PublicHealth #TristanDaCunha #EmergencyServices #SeaRescue

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We understand that a high risk contact in Ascension has developed symptoms consistent with hantavirus. Initial testing for hantavirus was negative, from samples shipped to the United Kingdom, but further investigations are ongoing.

We also understand that a family member of this contact travelled to St Helena on Sunday 10 May 2026. This family member is not suspected to have been infected with hantavirus but has been asked to enter isolation as a precaution until the full testing results and details of the situation are confirmed. There is currently no indication of any additional risk to the wider population in St Helena as a result of this development.

This individual is part of a group of medical personnel on Ascension Island who had close contact with a confirmed case and had already been assessed as higher risk. As a precaution, plans are in place for their relocation.  These arrangements are being kept under review to ensure they can respond to any change in clinical circumstances.

#StHelena #HantavirusResponse #Update

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The St Helena Government (SHG) continues to provide daily updates to ensure the public remains fully informed on the Hantavirus response. Whilst the situation on-island remains stable, SHG continues working closely with the UK Government and international partners on regional logistics.

Medical Capability and Supplies

Following the arrival of the specialist medical team on Saturday, our enhanced laboratory and infection control capabilities are now improved.

The shipment of medical consumables received via the Airlink flight on Sunday has been integrated into our local stocks, ensuring the island is well-equipped for any potential needs. All individuals currently in isolation will continue to receive a daily check-in by a member of the Health team and we are in the process of ensuring all have access to a thermometer for daily temperature self-checks.  

Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

In accordance with our international maritime obligations, Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS), a patient from a passing cargo vessel, was successfully delivered to the General Hospital to undergo essential medical treatment for an identified medical condition.  For the avoidance of doubt, the vessel began its voyage in Brazil and St Helena was its first stop. There is NO link to hantavirus. The patient was pre-screened remotely by our medical team and underwent further assessment before coming ashore, including temperature checks. All standard medical and public health protocols for visiting ships were conducted.

It is critical that we continue to deliver on our obligations; if we fail to do so we cannot reasonably expect reciprocal services in return. This operation poses no risk to the wider public.

Regional Updates: Tristan da Cunha and Ascension

In a continued effort to manage the situation across the Territory, several logistical operations are underway. The suspected case on Tristan da Cunha remains in a stable condition and continues to be monitored closely.

Pre-emptive relocation efforts are also in progress for a group of individuals on Ascension Island who had close contact with unwell passengers on the MV Hondius. As a precautionary measure, some have been successfully repatriated to their home countries to be closer to medical care and specialised support.  The remaining individuals will be relocated to the UK.

Current Status on St Helena

Public Guidance and Support

Regular communication remains a priority. Radio talks featuring Public Health professionals and senior officials will continue on Wednesday and Friday of this week.

The public are reminded to use official SHG channels for the most accurate information. The updated Q&A can be accessed here: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/Hantavirus-QA-11.05.26.pdf.

If you have had direct contact with the MV Hondius and experience a fever, muscle aches, breathing difficulties or gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or stomach pains) please contact the Hantavirus Screening Line on 25949 for guidance. Do not attend the hospital or clinics without calling first.

#StHelena #PublicHealth #TristanDaCunha #AscensionIsland #UKHSA

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The seventh meeting of Ministers Question Time will take place on Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 10am in the Council Chamber. This meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast live via SAMS Radio 1.

The topic for this meeting is: Impact of Global Conflict and International Economic Instability on St Helena’s Essential Services, Supply Chains, Cost of Living and National Resilience.

A copy of the Order Paper will be published on the SHG Website on Tuesday morning, and can be accessed via www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/legislative-council/order-papers/.

The St Helena Government (SHG) is providing the following update as part of its ongoing, proactive response to the Hantavirus situation. We continue to operate with an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of our community.

Enhancement of Medical Personnel

As a purely precautionary measure, SHG has enhanced its medical capabilities on-island with the arrival of five additional personnel on Saturday, 9 May. We are grateful for the direct support provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The new arrivals include:

The arrival of these experts is intended to provide reassurance to the public; it does not indicate a change in the current risk level, which remains very low.

Medical Supplies and Logistics

Following the arrival of yesterday’s (10 May) Airlink flight, the Health and Social Care Portfolio has now received the scheduled shipment of medical supplies. These supplies further bolster our on-island stocks and ensure our teams are fully prepared for any potential developments. Similar essential equipment has also been successfully delivered to Ascension to ensure regional readiness. Additionally, as part of our active monitoring process, all individuals currently in isolation will be provided with thermometers for precise daily temperature reporting to health officials.

Regional Support: Tristan da Cunha

Regarding the suspected case on Tristan da Cunha, a Royal Air Force (RAF) flight successfully conducted an airdrop of essential equipment and personnel to the island on Saturday afternoon. This rapid response underscores the tangible support being delivered by the UK Government across the Territory. The individual on Tristan remains stable and  is showing signs of improvement.

Current Status on St Helena

SOLAS passenger on passing cargo vessel

In accordance with our international maritime obligations, Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) we will be bringing a patient ashore from a passing cargo vessel, on or around 12 May. For the avoidance of doubt, the patient has an identified medical condition. The vessel began its voyage in Brazil and St Helena will be its first stop. There is NO link to hantavirus. The patient has been pre-screened remotely by our medical team and will undergo further assessment before coming ashore, including temperature checks. It is critical that we continue to deliver on our obligations, as if we fail to do so then we cannot reasonably expect reciprocal services in return. This operation poses no risk to the wider public.

Communication and Support

To keep the public informed, radio talks featuring Public Health professionals and senior government officials will continue today, Wednesday, and Friday.

FAQ

The community is encouraged to rely on official SHG channels for information. We have updated the FAQ with a timeline covering the early stages of this outbreak, to aid public understanding of what information was known when.

To view the updated FAQ, please visit: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/Hantavirus-QA-11.05.26.pdf.

Hantavirus Screening Line

Anyone who had direct contact with the MV Hondius and develops symptoms such as fever or muscle aches should call the Hantavirus Screening Line on 25949 for guidance before visiting the hospital or a clinic.

#StHelena #PublicHealth #MedicalSupplies #SOLAS #WHO

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Dear friends,

After an eventful weekend where the UK government once again demonstrated its commitment to the Territory following the hantavirus outbreak, I want to provide an update on the ongoing response.  I know many across our communities recognise the effort being committed and I continue to be grateful for your ongoing support.  As you have now heard repeatedly, these measures are being applied out of an abundance of caution.  This remains the case.

Across all three islands, specific UK Health Security Agency advice and risk assessment is being followed.  This ensures support is deployed on the basis of clinical need and expert recommendation.

Tristan da Cunha

On Tristan da Cunha, there is one probable case of hantavirus in an islander who had travelled on the MV Hondius. As previously, we all wish a full and speedy recovery.

Comprehensive contact tracing has been completed and a small number of individuals are currently self-isolating as a precaution. At this stage, no other symptomatic cases have been identified.  The wider risk to the community remains low.

To reinforce the island’s resilience, UK military personnel and medical supplies were successfully delivered by air drop on Saturday. This rapid deployment demonstrates the UK Government’s ability to provide practical support to even the most remote communities when needed.

St Helena

There are currently no suspected cases of hantavirus on St Helena.

As a precautionary measure, a UK public health team of three specialists arrived on Saturday alongside 14 boxes of medical kit and supplies. This enhances the island’s already strong local capability and ensures preparedness should the situation change.

Two UK military planners also arrived on Saturday. They will support ongoing response work and develop contingency options for any further assistance that may be required from the UK military or wider Government. This is prudent forward planning.

With our local Public Health team, the UK Health Security Agency continues to assess the risk to all individuals who had contact with suspected or confirmed cases while visiting St Helena. A number of residents remain in self-isolation and others are being supported while monitoring for symptoms.

The risk remains low.

All cases identified to date have been associated with passengers on the MV Hondius, where close contact was more likely. A small number of individuals currently on St Helena who travelled on the vessel have been assessed as higher risk. While the likelihood of illness remains low, UKHSA has advised that they should be the subject of pre-emptive relocation to the UK to complete their self-isolation.  This is being arranged and they will be fully supported on arrival.

Ascension Island

There are currently no suspected cases of hantavirus on Ascension.

The resident medical personnel who had close contact with a confirmed case have been assessed as higher risk. In an abundance of caution, they are also being relocated. The first group has now been relocated to countries of residence in southern Africa.  The second group will also be the subject of pre-emptive relocation to the UK.  This is currently being arranged.

A medical team has arrived on Ascension to replace the resident team. In addition to delivering the healthcare requirements for the island, they will continue monitoring the hantavirus response.

UKHSA advice remains that the overall risk is low and that appropriate measures are in place across the Territory.

Conclusion

I would like to thank local teams across the Territory for their professionalism and calm response, as well as UK partners for the swift provision of specialist personnel, medical supplies and operational support.

Our approach is cautious, proportionate and guided by expert medical advice. We are acting early to reduce risk, support individuals affected and protect our communities.

We continue to work closely with international partners to ensure a coordinated response and it is important that information shared publicly remains accurate and based on verified advice.

We will continue to share information as appropriate, while respecting the privacy and resilience of those directly affected. We should all avoid speculation. Further updates, including on relocation arrangements and response measures, will be provided as plans develop. 

#StHelena #Governor’sMessage

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