The World Health Organization on Tuesday said it had begun tracing passengers who boarded a flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg following the death of a cruise ship passenger from hantavirus.
The victim, a Dutch woman, had disembarked on the remote island of Saint Helena on April 24 after developing gastrointestinal symptoms while aboard the vessel.
Her husband had earlier died from the same virus on the cruise ship, which is currently stranded off Cape Verde.
According to the WHO, the woman’s condition worsened during her onward journey to Johannesburg, where she died on April 26.
Health authorities said contact tracing efforts are now underway for all passengers on the flight, as part of measures to contain any potential spread of the virus.
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The development comes amid growing concern over hantavirus infections, with global health officials intensifying surveillance and emergency response efforts to prevent further fatalities.
Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, and while human-to-human transmission is rare, health agencies often take precautionary measures in suspected exposure cases.
The WHO said it continues to monitor the situation closely while working with relevant health authorities to ensure timely response and containment.