The Ministry of Health in this country says that one of the residents of Britain, who is being treated for it in South Africa, has contracted a virus found in rats.
The Ministry’s statement revealed that the Hantavirus was found in a Briton, who was on board the MV Hondius, which was traveling from Argentina to the Canary Islands. This cruise ship was passing through Cape Verde.
It was carrying 150 passengers and passed through various islands including Antarctica, Falklands, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan, St Helena and Ascension.
“Despite this passenger being treated at Ascension, his condition did not improve, which led to him being rushed to the country to get help at a private center in Sandton, Gauteng. The results confirmed that he was infected by this killer virus. His condition is very serious, and he was kept in solitary confinement where he was treated.”
The Ministry said the virus is found in rats and its symptoms include headache, fever, lower back pain and diarrhea. It is found in the urine of trapped rats, which when the wind blows, a person breathes in the virus.
“Some of the passengers who were on the ship, a man and his wife, had to get medical help. When the ship was passing through the country, some of the passengers expressed difficulty breathing,” said the Ministry.
The Department’s statement revealed that a 70-year-old passenger, who fell ill when the ship passed St Helena, had symptoms of fever, headache, and vomiting, and eventually died. His body is still being kept in St Helena before being transferred to the Netherlands.
“A second passenger, a 69-year-old woman, the wife of the deceased died after she fainted at the OR Tambo airport, waiting to board a plane to the Netherlands. She was rushed to Kempton Park hospital, where she died. The results of her tests have not yet come back.”
The Ministry said it is working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the Department of Health in Gauteng, to look for other missing persons with the aim of stopping the spread of the virus.
“The public is not alarmed by the fact that two people have died because of this virus. IWThe World Health Organization is working with the affected islands to stop the spread of the virus.”