Rare Andes Strain of Hantavirus Detected on Cruise Ship in South Africa

In a recent health alert, South Africa has identified the rare Andes strain of hantavirus in two passengers from a cruise ship outbreak. This marks a rare instance of human-to-human transmission, a feature unique to the Andes strain of the virus.

According to details from the South African health minister's presentation to parliament, the affected individuals include a Dutch woman who later died in Johannesburg and a British man who remains hospitalized. Both individuals fell ill aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship that had been traveling near South Africa.

The vessel was granted permission by the Spanish government to dock in the Canary Islands despite the outbreak. Testing conducted by South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases confirmed the Andes strain as the infection's cause. While human-to-human transmission is rare, it occurs primarily through close contact.

(With inputs from agencies.)