Category: Health

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority is proposing to accept remedies offered after raising competition concerns over Welltower’s purchase of more than 600 care homes across the country.

The watchdog’s initial investigation found that the deal could reduce competition in 30 local areas across England and Scotland, potentially affecting prices, choice and care quality for elderly residents.

Welltower’s Purchase Put Hundreds Of Sites Under Review

Welltower, a US-based real estate investment trust, became the owner of four portfolios of care home properties in October 2025.

The homes had previously been owned and operated by Barchester Healthcare, HC-One, Aria Care, including Asprey, and Danforth Care.

As part of the transaction, new operators took over the day-to-day management of the homes, including Care UK and Apex Healthcare Properties through Barchester Healthcare.

Competition Concerns Found In 30 Local Areas

During its phase 1 investigation, the CMA examined the potential effects of the transaction on nursing and residential care services for older people.

The regulator found that in some areas, either Welltower or one of the care home operators could hold a significant share of local care home provision.

The CMA said this raised concerns that residents and families could face higher prices or lower service quality if competition weakened.

Remedies Include Property Sales And Operator Changes

To address the concerns, Welltower has offered to sell ownership of a number of care home properties in affected areas.

For other homes, the company has proposed reallocating operations to a new operator, a move intended to preserve local competition without blocking the wider transaction.

CMA Says Proposal Could Resolve Concerns

The CMA said it believes the proposed remedies may be enough to address the competition issues identified in the investigation.

The watchdog will now consult on the remedies package and on potential purchasers before making a final decision.

Older Residents And Families At Centre Of Review

Sorcha O’Carroll, Senior Director of Mergers at the CMA, said competition among care providers is important because families need access to good care at fair prices.

She said the watchdog had concerns that Welltower’s acquisition of more than 600 sites could create local competition problems but added that the offered solution may allow the deal to proceed while protecting competition.

Impact and Consequences

If accepted, the remedies could allow Welltower’s care home acquisition to move forward while forcing changes in areas where the CMA believes competition may be weakened.

The case may also send a wider message to investors and operators in the UK care sector that large property acquisitions will be closely examined where they affect local choice, service quality or pricing for elderly care.

For residents and families, the outcome could influence the number of competing care home options available in certain communities.

What’s next?

The CMA will publish more detail on the proposed remedies and consult on both the package and potential purchasers.

A final decision will depend on whether the watchdog is satisfied that the proposed property sales and operator reallocations are enough to protect competition in the 30 affected local areas.

Summary

The CMA is proposing to accept remedies from Welltower after its purchase of more than 600 UK care homes raised competition concerns in 30 local areas.

The proposed solution includes selling some care home properties and transferring operations at others to new operators.

Bulleted Takeaways:

• The CMA investigated Welltower’s purchase of more than 600 UK care homes.
• Competition concerns were identified in 30 local areas across England and Scotland.
• The watchdog warned the deal could lead to higher prices or lower care quality.
• Welltower has offered to sell some care home properties.
• Some care homes may also be transferred to new operators.
• The CMA will consult on the remedies before making a final decision.

A Dutch ornithologist has been identified as the first passenger to die in the deadly hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius.

Leo Schilperoord, 70, boarded the vessel with his wife Mirjam after travelling through Argentina, where the couple had gone birdwatching.

He later became the first of three cruise ship passengers to die after contracting hantavirus.

His widow, who had initially been comforted by fellow passengers after his death, also fell ill and later died after leaving the ship.

Outbreak Source Now Under Fresh Scrutiny

Initial reports suggested the infection may have been picked up at a landfill and birdwatching site in Ushuaia, at the southern tip of Argentina.

However, new information has raised doubts about that theory.

Officials in Tierra del Fuego have questioned claims that the virus originated in Ushuaia, saying the region has not recorded the virus and that the rodent species linked to the strain is not found there.

Instead, attention has shifted roughly 1,500 miles north to northern Patagonia, where the couple had reportedly travelled before arriving in Ushuaia.

Officials Point to Northern Patagonia Travel

Juan Petrina, the director of epidemiology for Tierra del Fuego, said the couple had been in northern Patagonia about 25 to 30 days before reaching Ushuaia.

He said that timeline better fits the known incubation period of hantavirus, which is at least a week.

Petrina said the couple arrived in Ushuaia on March 29 and had only two full days there before boarding the MV Hondius on April 1, making it unlikely, in his view, that they contracted the virus locally.

Andes Strain Raises Alarm

The deadly strain involved in the outbreak is known as the Andes strain of hantavirus.

Unlike most hantavirus variants, the Andes strain is known for its ability to spread from person to person.

It is associated with regions including Neuquen, Rio Negro and Chubut provinces in northern Patagonia.

Argentina’s health ministry has said the country has recorded 42 hantavirus cases so far this year, and 101 cases since last June, including 32 deaths.

Couple’s Movements Under Investigation

Argentine health authorities have been working with provincial health ministries to reconstruct the couple’s movements and identify the original source of the outbreak.

The Dutch couple had also travelled to Chile before heading south to Ushuaia.

However, Chile’s health ministry said the timing of the illness did not match their stay in Chile and stated that the couple did not contract the virus there.

First Death Was Initially Described as Natural Causes

Schilperoord died on board the MV Hondius on April 11.

Passengers were reportedly told by the captain that he had died of natural causes, which led other travellers to console and embrace his grieving widow.

Mirjam later accompanied her husband’s casket to Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 24.

Soon after, she developed gastrointestinal symptoms. Her condition worsened rapidly, and she died in hospital on April 26.

Passengers and Crew Face Quarantine Fears

Authorities are now trying to trace 29 passengers who disembarked from the MV Hondius on April 24 in St. Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic.

Other passengers who had been due to leave the ship in Tenerife may face quarantine for up to 45 days.

There are reportedly 22 British passengers still on board the vessel.

At least five people, including the ship’s British doctor, have tested positive for hantavirus. The doctor is said to be in serious condition in intensive care.

Three additional passengers have symptoms and are awaiting confirmation through test results.

Earlier Outbreak Shows Human-to-Human Risk

Health authorities and the World Health Organisation have sought to avoid comparisons between the Andes strain and a Covid-style pandemic.

However, the virus has caused serious clusters before.

In 2018, a man in rural Chubut province attended a birthday party while ill with a fever. That event led to 34 infections and 11 deaths, making it one of the most alarming known examples of person-to-person spread.

Gene Hackman Family Connection Renewed

The outbreak has also drawn renewed attention to the death of Betsy Hackman, wife of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, who died of hantavirus in February 2025.

Her nephew, Tim Hackman, said he hoped those affected by the cruise ship outbreak had strong support around them.

Betsy Hackman is believed to have contracted the virus after clearing out a rat’s nest in a shed at the couple’s New Mexico ranch. She died at home at 65, while Gene Hackman, who had advanced Alzheimer’s and heart disease, died about a week later at 95.

Impact and Consequences

The outbreak has created a major international health concern because passengers from the MV Hondius travelled through multiple countries before the scale of the infection became clear.

The possibility that the first infections may have occurred in northern Patagonia rather than Ushuaia could reshape the investigation and widen the search for exposed travellers.

The death of Schilperoord and his wife also shows how quickly hantavirus can become fatal once symptoms develop.

For cruise operators, the case raises difficult questions about onboard illness reporting, passenger communication and how quickly suspected infectious disease cases should trigger isolation measures.

What’s next?

Health authorities are expected to continue tracing the movements of the Dutch couple before they boarded the MV Hondius.

Officials will also try to contact passengers who left the ship in St. Helena and monitor those still on board or in quarantine.

Further testing will determine whether the symptomatic passengers have hantavirus, while investigators will keep examining whether the outbreak began in northern Patagonia.

The official source of the infection may take time to confirm because the couple travelled through several regions before boarding the ship.

Summary

Dutch ornithologist Leo Schilperoord, 70, has been identified as the first known victim of the deadly hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship.

He died on board on April 11, and his wife Mirjam later died in Johannesburg after developing symptoms.

Although early reports pointed to a landfill site in Ushuaia, officials now say the couple may have contracted the Andes strain of hantavirus in northern Patagonia, where multiple cases and deaths have been reported.

Several passengers and crew members remain infected or under observation.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Leo Schilperoord, 70, was the first passenger to die in the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak.
• His wife Mirjam also died after leaving the ship and travelling to Johannesburg.
• Early claims linked the outbreak to a landfill and birdwatching site in Ushuaia, Argentina.
• Tierra del Fuego officials now say the couple likely contracted the virus in northern Patagonia.
• The strain involved is the Andes strain, which can spread between humans.
• Argentina has recorded 101 hantavirus cases since last June, including 32 deaths.
• Authorities are tracing 29 passengers who left the ship in St. Helena.
• 22 British passengers reportedly remain on board the MV Hondius.
• At least five people, including the ship’s British doctor, have tested positive.
• Some passengers may face quarantine for up to 45 days.
• Investigators are still working to confirm the true source of the outbreak.

Health officials in the United States are monitoring several travelers who recently returned from a cruise ship connected to a fatal hantavirus outbreak.

Two passengers from Texas and one from Virginia were on board the MV Hondius, a cruise vessel where multiple people later became sick and three passengers died.

The travelers returned to the U.S. before the outbreak had been formally identified, according to state health authorities.

Texas officials said both Texans are currently well and have not reported symptoms.

Texas Health Officials Say Two Passengers Are Symptom-Free

The Texas Department of State Health Services said Thursday that the two Texas passengers did not have contact with anyone who was visibly ill while on the MV Hondius.

Both have agreed to watch for symptoms and take their temperatures every day.

State officials said the travelers will contact public health authorities immediately if they notice any possible signs of illness.

Virginia Also Monitoring One Returned Traveler

The Virginia Department of Health is also keeping watch over one traveler who had been on the cruise and later returned home, according to 13 News Now.

As of Thursday, that passenger was reportedly in good health and had no symptoms of hantavirus infection.

The monitoring is precautionary, as symptoms can take time to appear after exposure.

Other U.S. States Are Watching Possible Exposures

American officials were already monitoring people in Arizona, California, and Georgia as of Wednesday.

Officials have confirmed that two Georgia residents and one Arizona resident are under observation. California officials are also monitoring an unspecified number of people.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday night that it is working with the State Department to track the status of U.S. passengers connected to the cruise.

“The Department of State is leading a coordinated, whole-of-government response including direct contact with passengers, diplomatic coordination, and engagement with domestic and international health authorities,” the CDC said.

Deadly Outbreak Began During MV Hondius Voyage

So far, three passengers have died in the outbreak, and several others have become ill.

The first known death was a 70-year-old Dutch man who died on April 11 after several days of serious illness.

At the time, the cause of his death was not publicly identified as hantavirus. His body was later removed from the ship on April 24 at St. Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic.

In a video shared with passengers, the ship’s captain, Jan Dobrogowski, said the death was believed to have been from natural causes.

“Tragic as it is, it was due to natural causes, we believe,” Dobrogowski said. “And also whatever health issues he was struggling with, I’m told by the doctor, were not infectious, so the ship is safe when it comes to that.”

He added: “The ship is safe. This gentleman, unfortunately, succumbed to natural causes. And like I say, we do what we can in order to continue in a safe and dignified way.”

Cruise Company Says Dozens Left The Ship At St. Helena

Oceanwide Expeditions, the Netherlands-based company that operates the MV Hondius, said Thursday that 30 passengers got off the vessel at St. Helena.

The company also revealed that six Americans disembarked there on April 24, nearly two weeks after the first passenger died on board.

The first confirmed hantavirus case from the ship was not announced by authorities until May 2.

Argentine Officials Examine Possible Source Of Infection

The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1.

Argentine authorities believe one possible source of the outbreak may have been a bird-watching trip taken by a Dutch couple at a garbage dump in Ushuaia.

Officials suspect the couple may have contracted hantavirus there before falling ill. The Dutch man later died on the ship, while his wife left the vessel, traveled to South Africa, and died there.

Flight Attendant In Netherlands Tested After Possible Exposure

On Thursday, the Netherlands’ health ministry said a flight attendant who had briefly been on a plane boarded by the Dutch woman was showing symptoms consistent with hantavirus.

The flight attendant was being tested in an isolation ward at a hospital in Amsterdam.

If the test comes back positive, the case could mark the first known infection linked to the outbreak involving someone who was not on the cruise ship.

How Hantavirus Spreads

Hantavirus symptoms usually appear between one and eight weeks after exposure.

Texas health officials said infection generally requires “close, prolonged contact with a person who is actively sick with the disease.”

Authorities added that the virus is not known to spread through brief casual contact, such as shaking hands or being in the same room for a short time.

They also said there have been no documented cases of someone without symptoms spreading the virus to another person.

Impact and Consequences

The outbreak has triggered public health monitoring across several U.S. states and raised questions about how information was handled during the cruise.

Passengers left the MV Hondius before the outbreak was officially confirmed, meaning health officials are now working backward to identify and monitor possible exposures.

The deaths of three passengers have also placed new attention on cruise ship health protocols, especially when serious illness occurs at sea and the cause is not immediately clear.

For travelers who returned home, the main consequence is a period of symptom monitoring, including daily temperature checks and close contact with local health officials.

What’s Next?

Health departments in Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Arizona, California, and possibly other states will continue monitoring travelers who were on the MV Hondius.

The CDC and State Department are also coordinating with domestic and international health authorities as they track U.S. passengers connected to the voyage.

Testing in the Netherlands may determine whether the symptomatic flight attendant became infected after contact with the Dutch woman who later died.

More information is expected as health agencies investigate how the outbreak began, who may have been exposed, and whether additional cases develop.

Summary

Two Texans and one Virginian are being monitored after returning from the MV Hondius, a cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak.

Three passengers have died, and several others have become ill. U.S. officials are also watching travelers in Arizona, California, and Georgia.

Health officials say the monitored passengers in Texas and Virginia are currently healthy and showing no symptoms.

Authorities continue to investigate the outbreak’s origin, with Argentine officials examining whether a bird-watching trip in Ushuaia may have played a role.

Bulleted Takeaways: U.S. Passengers Monitored After Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak On MV Hondius Cruise

• Two passengers from Texas and one from Virginia returned from the MV Hondius before the hantavirus outbreak was identified.
• Texas officials said both travelers are symptom-free and had no contact with sick passengers.
• The Virginia traveler is also reportedly healthy and under monitoring.
• Three cruise passengers have died, and several others have fallen ill.
• U.S. officials are also monitoring people in Arizona, California, and Georgia.
• Six Americans left the ship at St. Helena on April 24.
• Oceanwide Expeditions said 30 passengers disembarked at St. Helena.
• The first confirmed hantavirus case from the ship was not announced until May 2.
• Argentine officials are investigating whether a bird-watching trip at a garbage dump in Ushuaia may have been the source.
• A flight attendant in the Netherlands is being tested after showing possible symptoms following contact with one of the passengers.