Latest Posts
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
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.
Photo
#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
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
The St Helena Government (SHG) would like to advise the public that they are aware of an incident involving a local vessel, The Newcastle, which sank in James Bay early this morning.
There were no injuries reported, all debris has been recovered, and there was minimal pollution.
The matter is currently under investigation by the Royal St Helena Police Service and Port Control. As this is a live investigation, SHG will be unable to provide further comment at this time.
#StHelena #PortControl #RSHP
The public is advised that the Health and Social Care Directorate has received a small number of reports of minor health issues that have been associated with the consumption of certain fish products.
Reports indicate that certain individuals have experienced symptoms of facial flushing, headaches and diarrhoea within approximately 10-60 minutes following the consumption of tuna, with tuna mince being commonly implicated in the reported cases.
The likely cause of these symptoms is scombroid fish poisoning, also known as histamine fish poisoning. Scombroid fish poisoning may occur 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.
The number of reported cases is fewer than twenty. Scombroid fish poisoning is not life-threatening and usually settles on its own within 4–6 hours. Oral antihistamines may help to alleviate symptoms.
Initial investigations and inspections conducted by Environmental Health and Public Health have identified that tuna mince processed by the Saints Tuna Corporation (STC) in March 2026 may be one possible source of the scombroid fish poisoning. STC have been instructed to recall all tuna mince processed during the period between 12 March 2026 and 27 March 2026, which represents a wider range of processing dates than those reported to the health authorities as a precautionary measure.
Further investigations and inspections across the fishing industry are ongoing, including laboratory testing to confirm the presence of elevated levels of histamine within certain fish products.
In the meantime, the public are requested to:
- avoid consuming products or meals containing tuna mince until further notice;
- seek immediate medical care if developing difficulty breathing, blurred vision, tongue swelling or fainting episodes after eating tuna;
- report any adverse reactions after eating tuna (including in the past 3 months) to Environmental Health at eh.office@sainthelena.gov.sh; and
- return any tuna mince products with labelling to prove that it was processed by STC between 12 March and 27 March 2026 to the place of purchase for issuance of a refund. Retailers will return products to STC for reimbursement.
A further update will be issued by Wednesday 29April when the majority of investigations and inspections will have concluded.
#StHelena #HistamineFishPoisoning #Investigation
Deputy Head of Maritime, Terri Clingham, has successfully completed a Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate in Safety and Accident Investigation at Cranfield University. This qualification, funded by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency UK through the UK Government, is delivered at Master’s degree level within the UK qualifications framework and is internationally recognised for its focus on improving safety across high-risk industries. Terri will formally graduate in June 2026, marking an important milestone in her professional development.
The programme provides advanced training in systemic accident investigation, equipping professionals with the skills to analyse complex incidents and identify underlying causes beyond immediate technical failures. It reflects global best practice in safety investigation and supports the development of independent, evidence-based approaches to learning from incidents.
Key areas of study include:
- Human factors and organisational influences in accidents
- Advanced investigation methodologies and analytical techniques
- Evidence gathering, analysis, and reporting
- Understanding how systems, processes, and decision-making contribute to incidents
- Promoting a no-blame, learning-focused safety culture
This achievement represents a significant investment in professional capability and strengthens the ability to support robust governance, risk management, and safety improvement across a wide range of operational environments.
Terri extends sincere thanks to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency UK for their support in funding both the programme and associated travel, enabling the successful completion of this qualification.
Terri Clingham
#StHelena #PostGradAchievement #SafetyandAccidentInvestigation
The Roads Section are pleased to announce the completion of its major resurfacing programme, delivering 9km of upgraded road, most being primary roads across the island. The project reached its target on Thursday, 26 March 2026.
Approved by the Project Steering Committee on 15 May 2025, the programme began with the procurement of materials, with the first shipment of bitumen arriving at the end of June 2025.
Although initial progress was delayed due to unsuitable bitumen being supplied, work formally commenced on 4 August 2025.
Key project figures include:
| Litres of Bitumen | 150,000 |
| Crusher dust yards | 1,000+ |
| Days worked | 103 |
| Days lost due to rain, cruise ships or any other requests | 16 |
| Total meters resurfaced (full width) | 9030 |
| Average meters done per month | 1129 |
| Average meters done per day (half widths) | 175 |
It is anticipated that these improvements will remain maintenance-free for the next 7 to 12 years, enabling future recurrent funding to be directed towards other priority areas.
The Roads Section extends their sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the successful delivery of this project. The public are also thanked for their continued patience and understanding throughout the works.
Photos:
Roads Team Working on Longwood Road
Button-Up Corner Road
#StHelena #RoadsSection #FCDO