International health authorities, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), are coordinating a rapid response to a rare Hantavirus outbreak linked from the MV Hondius cruise ship.
The confirmed presence of the Andes hantavirus strain, known for its potential for human-tohuman transmission under specific conditions, prompted extensive contact tracing and monitoring efforts across multiple continents.
The alarm was raised when Swiss authorities confirmed case of Hantavirus in a passenger from the MV Hondius.
The individual, who had responded to an email from the ship’s operator, presented themselves to a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, where they are currently receiving care.
This initial confirmation triggered a broader investigation into potential exposures. As of May 6, a total of eight cases have been identified, with three confirmed as Hantavirus through laboratory testing.
The outbreak has seen three suspected Hantavirus patients evacuated from the cruise ship, transported to Netherlands for medical care, the coordinated effort involves the WHO, the ship’s operator, and national authorities from the Cabo Verde, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands.
South Africa’s Swift Response to Critical Cases
South Africa has been at the forefront of managing critical cases linked to the outbreak. Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi briefed Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health, detailing the nation’s swift and decisive actions.
The Minister’s update followed the
confirmation of Andes hantavirus in a critically ill British national in South Africa, a woman who tragically collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport and later died, and her husband, who passed away in St Helena.
All three individuals were passengers aboard the MV Hondius, which was sailing from Argentina to the Canary Islands via Cape Verde. 
Minister Motsoaledi highlighted the rapid contact tracing efforts, with 62 individual identified as potential contacts, 42 of whom have already been traced and are under observation.
These contacts include airline staff,
healthcare workers, and ambulance crews. Addressing concerns about the woman who arrived at OR Tambo Int’l Airport, Minister Motsoaledi clarified that she did not present as ill to airline staff in St Helena, making pre-screening difficult.
He emphasized that while temperature screening is in place, it is not a foolproof method for detecting all illnesses, as not every sick individual exhibits a high temperature.The Andes Hantavirus: A Rare Threat
Professor Lucille Blumberg, an infectious diseases expert at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa, provided crucial insights into the virus.
She confirmed that the detected strain is the Andes hantavirus, one of 38 known strains and it is unique as it is the only one known to cause human-to-human transmission, though this is exceedingly rare and typically occurs only through very close contact, as observed in the case of the husband and wife who succumbed to the illness.
Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from wild animals to humans, and is endemic to the Americas. Professor Blumberg clarified that South African rats are not known to carry this Hantavirus, as the virus is primarily found in the Americas, Europe, and India.
International Collaboration and Low Public Health Risk
The response has been characterized by significant collaboration. The WHO is working with various countries to support international contact tracing and ensure that those potentially exposed are monitored to limit further spread.
Critical support has been provided by institutions such as the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Senegal, the Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud, Argentina.Professor Blumberg lauded the rapid diagnostic efforts, noting that the virus was detected within 24 hours of int’l alerts regarding concerns about the cruise ship.
She.described the response as “quite a remarkable effort to make that diagnosis of a most unusual pathogen in a most
unusual setting in such a short time.”
Despite the serious nature of the outbreak, the World Health Organization Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated on X that “At this stage, the overall public health risk remains low.”
The WHO continues to monitor the health of passengers and crew, working with national health authorities to provide necessary medical follow-up and
support.
