WHO AFRICA ON HANTAVIRUS: ‘RISK REMAINS LOW BUT VIGILANCE IS HIGH’

Tue 05 May 2026:

Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Africa, Professor Mohamed Janabi, says although the “risk remains low at this time” for Africa regarding the current Hantavirus case flagged in South Africa, vigilance remains high.

A case of the rare but deadly disease was confirmed by the South African Department of Health after the condition of a patient aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius necessitated his medical evacuation to a South African private health facility in Sandton for further medical management.

Two other passengers, a couple, also presented with severe acute respiratory infection, with one collapsing at the OR Tambo International Airport while trying to connect a flight to her home country of the Netherlands.

In a post on social media platform X, Janabi assured that the WHO Africa is “closely monitoring and supporting response” to the event.

He said that as of Sunday, three people have died although only one case of the virus has been laboratory confirmed.

“Hantavirus is a rare disease typically linked to exposure to infected rodents, and while severe in some cases, it is not easily transmitted between people. WHO is working closely with the countries concerned and the ship’s operators to support medical care, coordinate evacuations and conduct a full public health risk assessment.

“For Africa, the risk remains low at this time, but our vigilance is high. We are strengthening surveillance and preparedness to ensure swift and effective response.

“Let me reassure the public that this is a serious but contained event and there is no need for panic or travel restrictions at this stage. Our focus is clear: to save lives, contain risks and ensure that countries are fully supported with science-based action,” Janabi said.

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What is Hantavirus?

On its website, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) explains that Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) causing viruses are found in the Americas and are associated with “cricetid rodent host in endemic areas of South and North America”.

Transmission mainly occurs through “inhalation of aerosolised virus particles from rodent urine droppings, or nesting materials” with transmission through rodent bites less common.

“Human-to-human transmission of hantaviruses that cause HPS is very uncommon. There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission for the majority of HPS-causing viruses, and rodent exposure — rather than human contact — causes infection. Andes virus [reported from parts of South America] is the only hantavirus with well-documented human-to-human transmission.

“Transmission of the Andes virus has been inefficient and required close contact in household and health facility settings, unlike highly transmissible respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses.

“Evidence from Andes virus outbreaks (particularly in Argentina and Chile) indicates transmission can occur through close, prolonged contact with an infected person, especially involving household contacts, sexual partners, and caregivers. Likely routes of exposure include respiratory secretions (e.g., droplets from coughing), direct contact with saliva, and possibly other body fluids during the early symptomatic phase,” the NICD explained.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain in the first 3 to 5 days.

“As the disease progresses, patients may develop coughing and shortness of breath due to fluid accumulation in the lungs [pulmonary oedema] and a drop in blood pressure resulting in shock. The cardio-pulmonary phase can progress very quickly within hours], and the case fatality rate [CFR] for HPS is high, between 30 – 50 %.

“The CFR varies by virus, region, and access to intensive care, and patient factors [i.e., the influence of co-morbidities]. Common differential diagnoses (i.e., other diseases presenting with similar signs and symptoms) of suspected cases of HPS include (but are not limited to) influenza (i.e., flu), COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus infection, Legionnaire’s disease, mycoplasma pneumonia, or severe community-acquired pneumonia,” the institute said.

There currently is “no specific antiviral treatment for HPS”, with management of the virus through hospitalisation, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation and intensive care.

“In endemic countries, prevention focuses on reducing exposure to rodents. This includes sealing homes to prevent rodent entry, proper food storage, safe cleaning of rodent-infested areas (using disinfectants and avoiding sweeping), and using protective equipment when necessary.

“Since most hantaviruses that cause HPS are not readily transmissible from person-to-person, no other precautions are recommended, and for patients with HPS, isolation precautions may not be required.

“In the case of the Andes virus, patients diagnosed with HPS should be isolated with droplet precautions and careful handling of respiratory secretions. For HPS associated with the Andes virus, contacts of cases should be identified and monitored for 42 days (i.e., the maximum incubation period of the virus),” the NICD said.

– SAnews.gov.za

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