The Department of Health has called for public calm following confirmation of a rare hantavirus case in a critically ill British national in South Africa.
The patient was a passenger aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, which was travelling to the Canary Islands via Cape Verde from Argentina. The ship was carrying some 150 passengers and travelled past several islands, including mainland Antarctica, the Falklands, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan, Saint Helena and Ascension.
“In our view, there is no need for the public to panic because only two patients from the cruise ship have been within our borders,” the department said in a statement on Monday.
The British patient received medical treatment at Ascension, but his condition did not improve and required his medical evacuation to a private health facility in Sandton for further medical management.
“His laboratory test results came back positive for hantavirus – a rare but potentially deadly virus transmitted primarily by rodents. The patient is still in critical condition in isolation but receiving medical attention,” the department said.
Two deaths reported
Two other passengers, a husband and wife, also experienced medical emergencies whilst the ship was travelling past South African shores.
The first patient was a Dutch man (70) who became ill on the ship en route from Ushuaia to Saint Helena Island, presenting with fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. He died on arrival at Saint Helena Island. His body remains on Saint Helena, awaiting repatriation to the Netherlands.
The second patient was a Dutch woman (69), the wife of the first patient, who collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport whilst trying to connect a flight to the Netherlands. She was taken to a health facility near Kempton Park for medical attention and died. Laboratory test results for the patient are outstanding.
Contact tracing underway
The Department of Health is working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Gauteng Health Department authorities to conduct contact tracing to stop potential spread of the virus by identifying and monitoring individuals who may have been exposed to the infected persons.
“The World Health Organization is coordinating a multi-country response with all affected islands and countries to contain further spread of the disease,” the statement said.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially deadly virus transmitted primarily by rodents through contact with their urine, droppings and saliva. Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle aches and gastrointestinal problems, with severe cases progressing to pneumonia and acute respiratory distress.
There is no specific treatment for hantavirus infection, with patients receiving supportive care including rest, hydration and treatment of symptoms.
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