Health authorities say an outbreak of hantavirus is linked to the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, which sailed from Argentina to Cape Verde with 147 passengers on board. The WHO reported on 13 May that 11 cases had been identified, including three deaths. Of the cases, eight are confirmed as hantavirus, two are probable and one is inconclusive pending further testing.
A 70-year-old man died on arrival at St Helena island in the South Atlantic; his 69-year-old wife collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and later died. Laboratory tests confirmed hantavirus in both. A British man who became ill on the ship tested positive and is isolated in a private medical facility in South Africa in critical condition. Three Zimbabweans evacuated from Ascension Island are under quarantine in Harare and are being monitored for 45 days in a designated isolation facility; they are currently healthy. An edit on 14/05/26 clarified that there have been no confirmed cases of hantavirus in Zimbabwe.
The WHO said the outbreak involves the Andes strain, a variant found mainly in South America and the only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission. It can cause hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness. Transmission generally requires close, prolonged contact and the overall probability of infection is low. Preliminary investigations suggest some exposure occurred during visits to rodent-infested areas in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay before passengers boarded. Hantavirus spreads mainly through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva and often follows inhalation of contaminated dust while cleaning enclosed spaces.
Officials urged measures to reduce rodent exposure, such as sealing holes in homes and storage areas, storing food securely and using protective equipment when cleaning. The incident has increased surveillance in Africa and prompted discussion about preparedness. Experts said the event shows how disease alerts can cross borders through travel and can test surveillance systems, especially where diagnostic capacity and outbreak readiness are limited. Zimbabwe officials said the country is strengthening laboratory and surveillance capacity with support from the Pandemic Fund and has a One Health Strategic Plan to improve readiness for zoonotic threats.
Difficult words
- hantavirus — a virus that can cause severe respiratory disease
- outbreak — a sudden increase in cases of a disease
- strain — a variant or subtype of a virus
- transmission — the way a disease spreads between people or animals
- exposure — contact that may allow infection to occur
- surveillance — systematic monitoring to detect health threats early
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What challenges can international travel create for disease surveillance and outbreak response?
- Which measures mentioned in the article could households take to reduce rodent exposure, and why might they work?
- How could limited diagnostic capacity affect a country's readiness for an outbreak, based on the article?
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