Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current contact tracing arrangements for rare imported infectious diseases in the context of the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak; how many people have been required to isolate as a result of the incident; what guidance has been issued to local authority Directors of Public Health and hon. Members where constituents are isolating; and whether compensation and financial support is available for individuals unable to work during extended isolation periods.

The United Kingdom’s response to this complex incident is being led by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) working closely with the World Health Organization, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS High Consequence Infectious Disease Network, the Home Office, the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government, the Ministry of Defence, the devolved administrations of the UK, and international partners. Collectively, they are doing everything possible to protect the safety and well-being of British nationals, and to provide reassurance to UK citizens.

Contacts have been asked to isolate for the duration of the incubation period, with regular testing and ongoing care provided by UKHSA and National Health Service teams. There are 85 people isolating in the UK and UK overseas territories.

UKHSA has notified local authority directors of public health and individual Members of Parliament where a person had been requested to isolate in their constituency and will continue to do so when people leave to complete their isolation period in their homes.

The Department has agreed to fund additional self-isolation support provided by local authorities to eligible British Nationals from the MV Hondius via regular routes. This includes a one-off payment to individuals facing financial hardship due to loss of income as a result of isolating.

The Government will review lessons learned following the conclusion of the response as the situation remains ongoing and fluid.