The World Health Organization (WHO) has commenced contact tracing for more than 80 air passengers following the death of a cruisea ship traveller linked to a suspected hantavirus outbreak.
Health authorities disclosed on Tuesday that the affected passengers were on a flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg on April 25.
According to the WHO, the case involved a Dutch woman who had disembarked from the cruise vessel after showing gastrointestinal symptoms. She reportedly boarded the flight the next day but died upon arrival at a Johannesburg hospital on April 26. Laboratory tests later confirmed hantavirus infection on May 4.
Airline operator Airlink said 82 passengers and six crew members were onboard the flight, prompting authorities to initiate urgent tracing efforts.
A spokesperson for South African health authorities said affected passengers had been advised to contact relevant health departments for further screening and monitoring.
The WHO also raised concerns that the virus may have spread among passengers aboard the expedition cruise ship, MV Hondius, which has been at the centre of an international health alert since last weekend.
The vessel, currently anchored off Cape Verde, has recorded multiple infections, including three deaths two confirmed and one suspected involving passengers of different nationalities.
Hantavirus, a rare but potentially fatal disease, is typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents, particularly via their urine, droppings or saliva. However, health officials are investigating the possibility of limited human-to-human transmission in this case.
Authorities on Saint Helena, a remote British territory with a population of about 4,400, confirmed that some cruise passengers had briefly come ashore before the outbreak was identified. As a precaution, individuals who had close contact with symptomatic travellers have been advised to self-isolate.
Despite the development, local officials said there was currently no confirmed case of the virus on the island and no immediate cause for alarm.
Investigations into the outbreak are ongoing, as global health agencies continue efforts to contain the spread and assess potential risks to other regions.
