By Our Correspondent
National News – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched urgent contact tracing following a suspected hantavirus case involving a Dutch cruise ship passenger who later died after flying from Saint Helena to Johannesburg.
The woman had initially disembarked on April 24 with gastrointestinal symptoms while her husband had earlier died aboard the same cruise ship off the coast of Cape Verde.
Her condition worsened during the flight and she died on April 26.
The WHO said it is tracing all passengers on the Johannesburg-bound flight from Saint Helena after concerns that the hantavirus infection could have exposed others.
The response follows the death of the Dutch woman on April 26, 2026, and earlier reports that her husband also died aboard the cruise ship near Cape Verde.
Authorities said she first showed symptoms, including gastrointestinal distress, on April 24 before disembarking in Saint Helena.
Health officials are working with aviation and border agencies to identify and monitor everyone who shared the flight route.
The aim is to prevent possible secondary transmission, although hantavirus is generally not transmitted between humans.
The situation highlights global surveillance coordination by the WHO in managing rare infectious disease risks linked to international travel and maritime tourism.
Investigations continue to determine the source of exposure on the cruise ship.
Experts note hantavirus is primarily spread through contact with infected rodents and contaminated environments rather than person-to-person transmission, which reduces but does not eliminate public health concern during international travel investigations.
WHO has advised continued vigilance, symptom monitoring for contacts, and adherence to infection prevention protocols among travellers and health authorities involved in the case.
Updates are expected as contact tracing progresses across affected routes.
Public health coordination remains central to preventing potential cross-border outbreaks linked to travel.
