British tourist is in a critical condition at a South African hospital after testing positive for hantavirus aboard a luxury cruise ship that recently docked along the country’s coast.
Health authorities confirmed the patient, who was on a multi-day Southern African cruise itinerary, showed symptoms including severe respiratory distress and early signs of kidney complications shortly after arrival.
The individual has been transferred to a specialised facility in the Gauteng region for intensive treatment.
Hantaviruses, primarily transmitted through contact with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, are rare in humans but can lead to serious conditions such as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) or Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS).
South African health officials say this appears to be an isolated imported case, with no immediate risk of person-to-person transmission.