The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has urged the public to remain alert to symptoms of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, especially if they have recently travelled to endemic regions such as parts of the Americas or have been in contact with a confirmed case.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious viral disease that is mainly spread through contact with infected rodents, their urine, droppings or saliva. Early symptoms may include fever, headaches, muscle aches and fatigue, but severe cases can lead to breathing difficulties and fluid buildup in the lungs. The warning follows recent cases linked to an international cruise ship travelling from Southern Argentina to the Canary Islands.
According to a media statement issued by the Department of Health, the cruise ship MV Hondius was carrying around 150 tourists when several passengers became ill with severe respiratory symptoms. A 70-year-old man died after becoming ill during the voyage, while his 69-year-old spouse later collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport and also passed away. A third passenger, a British national, tested positive for Hantavirus and remains in critical condition at a private hospital in Sandton. Health authorities, including the NICD and Gauteng Department of Health, are currently conducting contact tracing to identify and monitor anyone who may have been exposed to the infected passengers.
Image: Prof Salim Safrudeen Abdool Karim (Photo: Wikipedia)
The Department of Health has reassured the public that there is currently no reason to panic, noting that only two of the affected passengers entered South Africa, while the World Health Organization is coordinating a multi-country response to contain any possible spread of the disease. This has also been echoed by Prof Salim Safrudeen Abdool Karim, one of South Africa’s leading public health experts, who stated that it is “very unlikely” for Hantavirus to become a pandemic because the virus does not spread efficiently between humans and is already well understood by scientists.