Hantavirus update - South Africa

South Africanhealth authorities have confirmed hantavirus infection linked to passengersfrom the international cruise ship MV Hondius. The outbreak occurredduring a voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina, through the South Atlantic. WHOreported 7 cases as of 4 May 2026: 2 confirmed, 5 suspected,3 deaths, 1 critically ill patient, and 3 mild cases. (who.int)

Two affectedpassengers passed through South Africa: one passenger died after arrival inJohannesburg, and another was medically evacuated to South Africa and remainscritically ill in ICU isolation. The Department of Health, NICD and Gautenghealth authorities are conducting contact tracing.

What ishantavirus?
Hantaviruses are viruses carried mainly by rodents. People are usually infectedby breathing in dust contaminated with infected rodent urine, droppings, orsaliva, or by touching contaminated materials and then touching the face.

Can itspread between people?
Most hantaviruses do not spread easily from person to person. However,the Andes strain, linked to this outbreak, has rarely caused limitedperson-to-person spread after close and prolonged contact.

This isimportant – it makes the risk of spreading really low.

Symptoms towatch for
Symptoms may appear 1–8 weeks after exposure, usually around 2–4weeks. Early symptoms include high fever and chills (key feature),headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain. Severeillness can progress rapidly to pneumonia, breathing difficulty, low bloodpressure and shock.

Treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment or routine vaccine for hantavirus. Treatment is supportive, especially early referral to a hospital with ICU capability if breathing problems develop. Care may include oxygen, ventilationsupport, careful fluid management and blood pressure support.

How to protect yourself
For most South African workers, ordinary workplace hygiene is sufficient. Avoid contact with rodents and rodent-contaminated areas. Do not dry-sweep rodentdroppings or dusty rodent-infested areas; ventilate the area, wet-cleancarefully, and use appropriate PPE where rodent contamination is suspected.Store food securely, keep workplaces clean, and report rodent infestations forproper pest control.

WHOspecifically advises avoiding dry sweeping, improving ventilation, hand hygieneand active symptom monitoring after relevant exposure.

Risk topeople in South Africa
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Note that:

• South Africa does  have rodent species capable of carrying hantaviruses, including     multimammate mice and other indigenous rodents.
• Despite this, confirmed human disease has been exceptionally uncommon.
• The currently implicated strain (Andes virus) is not known to be endemic in South Africa.
• The present outbreak  was acquired outside South Africa, most likely in southern South     America where the Andes hantavirus strain is endemic.

So:

• For a person in South Africa who was not on the MV Hondius, was not on the relevant St Helena–Johannesburg flight, is not a healthcare worker caring for a case, and has no close contact with an infected person, the risk is very low.
• The WHO and the South  Africa’s NICD currently assesses the public risk from this event as low.
• Seek medical advice  urgently if you develop fever plus worsening shortness of breath after recent international travel, cruise-ship exposure, close contact with a known case, or significant rodent-contaminated exposure.

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