South Africa trace 42 contacts after hantavirus deaths
The NICD has confirmed two laboratory cases of hantavirus, along with five suspected infections linked to the vessel.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says officials have so far traced 42 people who may have come into contact with two hantavirus cases that have reached South African shores.
The MV Hondius, which left from Argentina, had been on a 34-day expedition cruise through the South Atlantic when the outbreak was detected near St Helena.
The vessel had been travelling to some of the most remote islands.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed two laboratory-confirmed cases of hantavirus, carried by rodents, along with five suspected infections linked to the vessel.
Three people have since died, including one who collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport.
Another patient is currently being treated at a facility in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Motsoaledi briefed Parliament's Health Committee on the suspected outbreak on Wednesday.
NICD confirms Andes strain capable of limited human-to-human transmission
Motsoaledi says the NICD has found that with the two cases in South Africa, the virus strain on the ship is the Andes variant, which is commonly found in South America.
It's the only strain out of 38 known to pass from person to person through close contact.
Motsoaledi told MPs that NICD officials have been conducting contact tracing.
" The lady who arrived at OR Tambo was flown from Saint Helena because there's an Airlink flight between Saint Helena and OR Tambo Airport. We need to know who were the people who were in contact with this lady. The second, are people who were at the airport before the lady collapsed. The third is health workers in Kempton Park, where the lady went with the gentleman to a hospital in Sandton. The ambulance crew, he was airlifted him directly, but the health workers who also got in contact with him."
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Global contact tracing underway as WHO expands cross-border monitoring
He says the World Health Organization has also started international contact tracing as the flight from St Helena was a multinational trip.
"The total number of people who were traced who could have come in contact with them was 62. Forty-two of them have already been traced, and they are being observed. The work is ongoing. They are left with 20 who they must check for this because of the contact in one way or the other."
