Health officials in South Africa on May 6, confirmed that two passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus after laboratory testing carried out with international partners. Hantavirus is a rare rodent-borne virus that can cause severe respiratory and kidney complications. The cases are part of a wider investigation involving several countries, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) supporting efforts to track and monitor anyone who may have been exposed on board. ALSO READ: The year Rwanda fought off two epidemics and achieved key milestones in delivering healthcare services Additional cases have been identified among passengers from the same voyage. In Switzerland, one passenger was diagnosed after falling ill and seeking treatment in Zurich, following a warning from the ship’s operator about possible exposure. The patient is currently receiving medical care. The WHO is coordinating the response under the International Health Regulations, working with affected countries to support contact tracing and monitor passengers and crew who may have been exposed, with the aim of preventing further spread. As of May 6, there are eight reported cases linked to the incident, three of which have been confirmed in laboratory tests as hantavirus infections. The strain identified has been confirmed as Andes hantavirus by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa and Geneva University Hospitals. Additional laboratory support has come from institutions including the Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal and Argentina’s national public health laboratories. Three suspected cases were recently evacuated from the vessel and transferred to the Netherlands for treatment, in coordination with the WHO, the ship’s operator, and national authorities from Cabo Verde, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands. Hantaviruses are transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents or their droppings. In rare cases, the Andes strain has also shown the potential for person-to-person transmission in close-contact settings. Health authorities continue to monitor passengers and crew both on board and after disembarkation, with follow-up systems now in place across multiple countries linked to the cruise’s passenger network.
