{"id":36454,"date":"2026-05-05T11:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T09:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=36454"},"modified":"2026-05-05T11:08:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T09:08:02","slug":"hantavirus-alert-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/hantavirus-alert-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Hantavirus Alert: South Africa Records Case Linked to Cruise Passenger, Health Officials Speak Out"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>South Africa\u2019s Department of Health has urged the public not to panic after a rare case of hantavirus was confirmed in a critically ill British national receiving treatment in Sandton, Gauteng. The case is linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, where several passengers developed severe respiratory illness during a voyage from Argentina through remote South Atlantic destinations. The World Health Organization has reported seven confirmed or suspected cases linked to the ship, including three deaths, but says the risk to the global population remains low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Department of Health said contact tracing is underway with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Gauteng health authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/malaria-deaths-rise-in-gauteng\/\"><strong>ALSO READ: Malaria Deaths Rise in Gauteng as Cases Surge in Early 2026<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Happened on the MV Hondius Cruise Ship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The cluster was reported to the World Health Organization on 2 May 2026 after passengers on a Dutch-flagged cruise ship developed severe respiratory illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to WHO, the vessel departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April and travelled through several remote destinations, including Antarctica, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena and Ascension Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As of 4 May, WHO reported:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Seven confirmed or suspected cases<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Two laboratory-confirmed hantavirus cases<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Five suspected cases<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three deaths<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One critically ill patient<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three people with mild symptoms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image.png 600w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-150x100.png 150w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-450x300.png 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/04\/world\/hantavirus-cruise-ship-outbreak-hondius.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NY Times<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2304825995\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How South Africa Became Involved<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa became part of the response after two passengers from the ship entered the country for medical or travel-related reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Department of Health said a 69-year-old woman collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport while attempting to connect to a flight to the Netherlands. She was taken to a health facility near Kempton Park but later died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A British national was medically evacuated from Ascension to a private health facility in Sandton after his condition worsened. His laboratory results later confirmed hantavirus infection, and he remains in isolation while receiving medical care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Health Officials Say There is No Need To Panic<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Department of Health said only two patients from the cruise ship had been within South Africa\u2019s borders and confirmed that contact tracing is being conducted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WHO has also assessed the risk to the global population from the event as low, while investigations continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Health authorities are focusing on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Identifying and monitoring possible contacts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Testing suspected cases<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coordinating with international health agencies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preventing further exposure on the vessel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-581363730\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Hantavirus?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hantavirus is a rare but potentially severe viral infection usually linked to exposure to infected rodents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WHO says people are mainly infected through contact with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/hantavirus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">urine, faeces or saliva from infected rodent<\/a>s, or by touching contaminated surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The virus is not generally spread like flu or Covid-19. Limited human-to-human transmission has been reported in previous outbreaks involving Andes virus, but this is considered uncommon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Symptoms Linked to Hantavirus Infection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to WHO, symptoms can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fever<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Headache<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Muscle pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dizziness or chills<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Abdominal pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coughing or shortness of breath in severe cases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Severe cases may progress rapidly to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress and shock. WHO said illness onset in the cruise ship cluster occurred between 6 and 28 April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1201475165\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How The Outbreak is Being Managed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>WHO said authorities from several countries, including South Africa, Cabo Verde, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom, are coordinating the response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Measures include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Case isolation and care<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laboratory investigations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Passenger monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact tracing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medical evacuation planning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ship sanitation measures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>WHO also said South Africa\u2019s National Institute for Communicable Diseases conducted laboratory confirmation for one of the cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What This Means for Gauteng Residents<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For Gauteng residents, the immediate public health risk remains low, according to current official assessments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the case is significant because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>One confirmed patient is being treated in Sandton<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact tracing is taking place in Gauteng<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>OR Tambo International Airport was part of the travel route for one passenger<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Health authorities are monitoring potential exposure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The situation does not point to widespread community transmission in Gauteng at this stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-711114190\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>FAQ: Hantavirus in South Africa<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Has hantavirus been confirmed in South Africa?<\/strong><br>Yes. A critically ill British national being treated in Sandton tested positive for hantavirus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Is the public at risk?<\/strong><br>The Department of Health has urged the public not to panic, and WHO currently assesses the global risk as low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How is hantavirus usually transmitted?<\/strong><br>It is mainly transmitted through exposure to infected rodents, especially their urine, droppings or saliva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Is it like Covid-19?<\/strong><br>No. Hantavirus does not usually spread through casual person-to-person contact like Covid-19 or influenza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What is happening now?<\/strong><br>Contact tracing, testing and international coordination are under way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Happens Next<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Health authorities are expected to continue monitoring contacts, testing suspected cases and sharing information with WHO and affected countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Gauteng health officials remain involved in the local response, while WHO coordinates the broader multi-country investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At this stage, officials are treating the event as a serious but contained health incident linked to cruise ship travel, with no indication that the public in Gauteng should panic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>South Africa\u2019s Department of Health has urged the public not to panic after a rare case of hantavirus was confirmed in a critically ill British national receiving treatment in Sandton, Gauteng. The case is linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, where several passengers developed severe respiratory illness during a voyage from Argentina through remote South Atlantic destinations. The World Health Organization has reported seven confirmed or suspected cases linked to the ship, including three deaths, but says the risk to the global population remains low.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":36460,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[11284,11469,2220],"class_list":{"0":"post-36454","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-current-affairs","9":"tag-public-annoucement","10":"tag-south-africa-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36454"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36461,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36454\/revisions\/36461"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}