South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has officially identified the Andes variant of hantavirus within the country, a significant development given its rare capacity for human-to-human transmission. Hantaviruses are typically carried by rodents, with humans contracting the virus through contact with infected animals or their urine, droppings, or saliva. The Andes strain, primarily endemic to South America, is uniquely known among hantaviruses for its ability to spread between people, though this occurrence is extremely rare and requires close contact. Importantly, local South African rodent populations have been confirmed by health officials not to carry this specific strain.

The arrival of the virus in South Africa stemmed from an international incident involving the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, which experienced a hantavirus outbreak while traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde. An adult female passenger, who had contracted the virus, subsequently traveled on Airlink flight 4Z132 from St. Helena Island to Johannesburg on April 25. Her health rapidly deteriorated during the flight, and she tragically died upon arrival at a Johannesburg emergency department. Another passenger from the cruise, a 69-year-old British national, was also confirmed to have the virus and was evacuated to a hospital in Sandton for intensive care.

In response to this alarming event, Airlink has collaborated closely with South African health authorities. The airline was informed on May 3 that the passenger's death was linked to Hantavirus. Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi clarified that the passenger had passed through routine temperature screening at OR Tambo International Airport without triggering concern, explaining that not all infected individuals present with a fever, thus confirming that South Africa’s safety mechanisms were not lax. Following notification, Airlink provided passenger names, seating allocations, and contact details to assist with extensive contact tracing efforts. Authorities have so far identified 62 people who may have come into contact with the affected passengers, with 42 already traced and placed under observation. This tracing process includes airport contacts, healthcare workers in Kempton Park who treated the deceased woman, and medical staff involved in treating the other hospitalized passenger.

The outbreak is linked to a total of three deaths. The first two fatalities were a husband and wife, both passengers on the MV Hondius, who succumbed to the virus. The third death was the adult female passenger who passed away in Johannesburg. The MV Hondius, carrying approximately 147 passengers, crew, and expedition staff from 23 different countries, remains near Cape Verde for isolation protocols. The vessel is expected to begin a three-day journey to either Gran Canaria or Tenerife in the Canary Islands once the evacuation process is complete, according to Oceanwide Expeditions.

Hantavirus itself is not a new phenomenon, with infections occurring globally throughout the year. Countries such as China, Russia, and South Korea report several thousand cases annually, while America, Finland, and France also document hundreds of cases each year. Hantaviruses are broadly categorized into two groups: Old World viruses, found in Europe, Asia, and Africa; and New World viruses, found in North, Central, and South America. Experts from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are coordinating the ongoing response, with Professor Lucille Blumberg of the NICD confirming that South African authorities identified the virus within 24 hours of receiving an international alert connected to the cruise ship.