SA Health Department Confirms Hantavirus in Ailing Briton Through Lab Tests

Johannesburg – The Department of Health has announced that a British national, who fell sick while on a cruise ship and was hospitalized in Sandton, has tested positive for hantavirus.

During the ship’s passage along South African coastlines, several passengers faced severe health issues that were initially thought to be severe acute respiratory infections.

The British passenger was among those who fell ill.

Despite receiving care at Ascension, his condition failed to improve, prompting his medical evacuation to a South African private health facility in Sandton for further treatment.

“His lab results indicated a positive test for hantavirus—a rare but potentially lethal virus primarily transmitted by rodents,” the department stated in a release on Monday, 4 May 2026.

“The patient remains in critical condition, isolated, but is receiving medical care.”

The department reported notification from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) about the medical situation and fatalities among passengers aboard an international cruise ship (MV Hondius) travelling from Southern Argentina to the Canary Islands, stopping by Cape Verde.

The ship, which carried around 150 tourists from various nations, departed from Ushuaia, Southern Argentina, nearly three weeks prior to this incident.

While on route, the vessel passed several islands, including the mainland of Antarctica, the Falklands, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan, St Helena, and Ascension.

The department noted that in terms of medical cases, the first patient was a 70-year-old male passenger who suddenly fell ill en route from Ushuaia to St Helena Island, presenting with fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

“Sadly, he passed away upon arrival at St Helena Island,” the department reported.

“His remains are currently in St Helena, awaiting repatriation to the Netherlands.”

The second affected passenger was a 69-year-old female, the partner of the first patient, who collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport while attempting to connect to a flight back to the Netherlands.

“She was transported to a nearby medical facility in Kempton Park for treatment but, unfortunately, passed away,” the department revealed.

“Lab test results for this patient are still pending.”

The British national was the third passenger to experience illness.

The department stated that it is collaborating with the NICD and the Gauteng Health Department to perform contact tracing, aiming to prevent further transmission of the virus by identifying and monitoring individuals who may have been in contact with the infected patients.

“We believe there is no need for public concern as only two patients from the cruise ship have been within our borders,” the department reassured.

“The World Health Organization is coordinating a multi-nation response with all impacted islands and countries to contain any further spread of the disease.”