South Africa Traces 97 Hantavirus Contacts After Medical Evacuation
South African health authorities are tracing 97 people who may have been exposed to hantavirus after a British man infected with the disease was medically evacuated to Johannesburg from St Helena.
The Department of Health said the patient, who arrived in the country on 27 April, is recovering in hospital after initially presenting with fever, breathing difficulties and pneumonia-like symptoms.
Health officials are now working alongside the World Health Organization to identify and monitor everyone who may have come into contact with infected individuals.
Also Read: Zimbabwe Takes Precautions After Three Health Workers Linked To Hantavirus Case Return Home
Patient Showing Signs of Recovery
Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mogale said the British patient’s condition had improved since being admitted to hospital in Johannesburg.
According to Mogale, the man remains ill but doctors have noted gradual progress in his recovery.
The patient was transported to South Africa aboard a commercial Airlink flight carrying 88 passengers and crew members, prompting extensive contact tracing efforts.
Health Officials Continue Contact Tracing
Authorities said tracing operations remain ongoing as experts work to identify all potential exposures linked to the case.
Medical experts noted that hantavirus can be difficult to detect in the early stages because people may continue testing negative for several weeks after exposure.
Professor Angelique Coetzee said some individuals linked to the case were currently isolating at home as a precautionary measure.
She also explained that the use of hazmat suits was not necessary because person-to-person transmission of the virus remains extremely rare.
Authorities Say Community Risk Is Low
Chairperson of the South African Medical Association, Mvuyisi Mzukwa, said the confirmed cases were tied to a specific exposure history connected to a cruise ship outbreak rather than community spread inside South Africa.
Mzukwa stressed that the average South African faced a very low risk of infection, adding that there was no evidence of sustained local transmission.
He further noted that local rodent species in South Africa are not known to commonly carry the strain of hantavirus linked to severe respiratory illness seen in parts of the Americas.
Monitoring Continues
Despite concerns surrounding the outbreak, health authorities insist the situation remains under control through monitoring, tracing and isolation measures.
Officials said surveillance efforts would continue as the department and international health experts keep a close watch on possible new cases.
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