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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Virus-hit island seeks urgent aid | Virus-hit island seeks urgent aid |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Britons living in what is described as the remotest community in the world are seeking help after the outbreak of an acute virus. | Britons living in what is described as the remotest community in the world are seeking help after the outbreak of an acute virus. |
| Many of the 271 British citizens living on the volcanic island of Tristan da Cunha, in the south Atlantic, have developed severe breathing problems. | Many of the 271 British citizens living on the volcanic island of Tristan da Cunha, in the south Atlantic, have developed severe breathing problems. |
| They need urgent medical supplies which cannot be found on the island. | They need urgent medical supplies which cannot be found on the island. |
| An international operation to provide urgent help, co-ordinated by Cornwall's Falmouth Coastguard, has now begun. | An international operation to provide urgent help, co-ordinated by Cornwall's Falmouth Coastguard, has now begun. |
| BBC World affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge said the islanders are being affected by what appears to be an outbreak of viral-inducted asthma which causes severe breathing problems. | BBC World affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge said the islanders are being affected by what appears to be an outbreak of viral-inducted asthma which causes severe breathing problems. |
| Tristan da Cunha's one resident doctor, a South African, has issued an urgent appeal for medical supplies. | Tristan da Cunha's one resident doctor, a South African, has issued an urgent appeal for medical supplies. |
| The South African Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre was alerted first and informed British coastguards. | The South African Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre was alerted first and informed British coastguards. |
| However, merchant ships in the area are unlikely to have the necessary drugs on board and a coastguard spokesman said there were no British military vessels nearby at present. | However, merchant ships in the area are unlikely to have the necessary drugs on board and a coastguard spokesman said there were no British military vessels nearby at present. |
| Inquiries are also being made about any aircraft that could be used. | Inquiries are also being made about any aircraft that could be used. |
| Isolated islands | Isolated islands |
| Tristan da Cunha is situated 2,800 km west of Cape Town, South Africa, and is part of a small group of islands. | Tristan da Cunha is situated 2,800 km west of Cape Town, South Africa, and is part of a small group of islands. |
| It was at one time on the main trading route between Europe and the Indian Ocean, but the small community living there is now extremely isolated. | It was at one time on the main trading route between Europe and the Indian Ocean, but the small community living there is now extremely isolated. |
| The community of 275 people describe themselves as living in the world's most isolated settlement. | The community of 275 people describe themselves as living in the world's most isolated settlement. |
| The island is famous for a mass evacuation to Southampton in the 1960s after a volcano erupted. | The island is famous for a mass evacuation to Southampton in the 1960s after a volcano erupted. |
| It is about 60 sq miles (100 sq km) and the currency is the British pound. | |
| Have you been affected by this story? Are you an islander or do you have relatives living there? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you been affected by this story? Are you an islander or do you have relatives living there? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures of the island to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | |