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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Remote virus-hit island seeks aid | Remote virus-hit island seeks aid |
| (4 days 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 to ensure that their current medical supplies do not run out. | They need to ensure that their current medical supplies do not run out. |
| An international operation to provide help is being led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. | An international operation to provide help is being led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. |
| BBC world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge said the islanders were 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 were 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 appeal for medical supplies. | Tristan da Cunha's one resident doctor, a South African, has issued an 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. |
| The volcanic island has no airstrip, making getting medicines there difficult. | The volcanic island has no airstrip, making getting medicines there difficult. |
| 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. |
| Viruses have swept through the island before but Michael Swales, chairman of the Tristan da Cunha association, said he could not recall medicines becoming exhausted on previous occasions. | Viruses have swept through the island before but Michael Swales, chairman of the Tristan da Cunha association, said he could not recall medicines becoming exhausted on previous occasions. |
| He said there was particular concern about the health of the elderly and the very young. | He said there was particular concern about the health of the elderly and the very young. |
| Isolated | Isolated |
| Resident Rosemary Glass told BBC Radio Cornwall that the island's tiny four-bed hospital was full to overflowing last week, but some patients had since gone home leaving three people in hospital. | Resident Rosemary Glass told BBC Radio Cornwall that the island's tiny four-bed hospital was full to overflowing last week, but some patients had since gone home leaving three people in hospital. |
| "It makes people chesty and it's hard for them to breathe," Mrs Glass said of the illness mainly affecting the elderly and children. | "It makes people chesty and it's hard for them to breathe," Mrs Glass said of the illness mainly affecting the elderly and children. |
| 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. |
| The main island is about 38 sq miles (98 sq km) and the currency is the British pound. | The main island is about 38 sq miles (98 sq km) and the currency is the British pound. |