Health Department urges calm after rare Hantavirus case confirmed in South Africa.
Image: File
Years after Covid-19 brought the world to its knees, another rare but potentially deadly virus called Hantavirus is making global headlines after a suspected outbreak aboard a cruise ship, where at least three people died.
It is worth noting that Hantavirus doesn't spread the same way respiratory viruses like COVID-19 or influenza do and is generally not contagious between people. The virus is usually contracted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, urine, and saliva.
Here is everything you need to know about the virus.
Hantavirus is a group of viruses carried primarily by rodents and transmitted to humans through contact with their urine, droppings, or saliva, often when contaminated particles are inhaled.
Once inside the body, the virus can trigger two major syndromes:
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
This form attacks the lungs. It typically begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue and muscle aches, before rapidly progressing to coughing, shortness of breath and fluid buildup in the lungs.
Severe cases can lead to respiratory failure, with a fatality rate of roughly 35% to 40%.
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS)
More common in Europe and Asia, this form affects the kidneys, causing internal bleeding, low blood pressure and acute kidney failure. Fatality rates vary but can reach up to 15% depending on the strain.
The virus has an incubation period of one to eight weeks, making early detection difficult.
Hantavirus is not new and is present across multiple regions. HPS is most common in North and South America, whereas HFRS is typically found in Europe and Asia.
In Argentina, there are recurring HFRS outbreaks, including cases and deaths in 2026. In Taiwan, there are sporadic HFRS cases and at least one death reported in 2026. The United States has seen rare but persistent HFRS cases over the decades.
Globally, hantavirus remains relatively rare in humans, with roughly 200 pulmonary cases reported annually in the Americas, though kidney-related infections (HFRS) account for 150,000 to 200,000 hospitalised cases each year worldwide, mostly in Asia and Europe.
Recent confirmed and reported deaths include:
3 deaths linked to a suspected outbreak on a cruise ship near Cape Verde in May 2026
Argentina (2026) – at least 8 deaths in early-year outbreaks
Argentina (late 2025–early 2026 period) – up to 20 deaths reported in a larger outbreak
Taiwan (2026) – 1 confirmed death
While precise global totals for 2026 are still being compiled, hantavirus deaths remain relatively low in number but high in severity, with mortality rates far exceeding those of many other viral infections once symptoms develop.
Health authorities, including the World Health Organization, stress that the overall risk to the general public remains low. However, the virus is considered dangerous due to its rapid progression and high fatality rate in severe cases.
In a statement released on Monday, the Department of Health said it is taking steps to deal with the situation.
"The Department is working with the NICD and Gauteng Health Department authorities to conduct contact tracing to stop potential spread of the virus by identifying and monitoring individuals who may have been exposed to the infected persons. In our view, there is no need for the public to panic because only two patients from the cruise ship have been within our borders. The World Health Organization is coordinating a multi-country response with all affected islands and countries to contain further spread of the disease.
IOL