Summary
- World Health Organization tracing passengers from Saint Helena–Johannesburg flight
- Case linked to deadly hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship
- At least three deaths and multiple suspected infections reported
NAIROBI, Kenya- The World Health Organization has launched contact tracing for passengers on a flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg after a traveller infected with hantavirus died shortly after landing.
The case is linked to a wider outbreak aboard a cruise ship currently stranded near Cape Verde.
How the infected passenger traveled before death
The WHO said the Dutch woman had disembarked from the cruise ship in Saint Helena on April 24 with gastrointestinal symptoms.
She boarded a flight operated by Airlink on April 25 alongside 82 passengers and six crew members.
Her condition worsened mid-journey, and she died shortly after arriving at a hospital in Johannesburg, where she tested positive for hantavirus.
WHO launches urgent contact tracing effort
Health authorities have now begun tracing all passengers who were onboard the flight.
Airline officials confirmed that affected travellers have been advised to contact health authorities for monitoring and possible testing.
The WHO said investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of exposure and risk of transmission.
Concerns grow over possible spread beyond cruise ship
The outbreak, linked to a cruise vessel, has already claimed at least three lives, including a Dutch couple and a German passenger.
Seven confirmed and suspected cases have been recorded so far.
The WHO warned that while hantavirus is typically spread through rodents, there are concerns it may have spread between people on the ship.
The situation is being closely monitored as authorities work to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread across borders.
