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Should SA be scared about another coronavirus pandemic?
An outbreak of a new deadly virus called Hantavirus is running rampant, sending shockwaves across the globe with its origins within South America where it’s reported to be endemic. The virus spreads through contact with the urine, faeces or saliva of infected rodents and can also be transmitted through contaminated surfaces.
The outbreak
Health officials are tracing the outbreak in Argentina where the cruise ship MV Hondius docked. The first people documented as part of the fatalities are a Dutch couple who travelled for special interests to find a rare bird species.
In South Africa a Dutch couple was also infected with an elderly woman pronounced dead last week. Health officials are tracing the outbreak in Argentina where the cruise ship MV Hondius docked.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has emphasized that South Africa is not fighting this alone. He noted that the Department of Health is in constant contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure our response matches international safety standards. He lamented that through sharing data and tracking the movement of passengers from the MV Hondius, the virus can be ring-fenced before it proliferates into communities.
Concerns
Minister Motsoaledi also addressed reasonable concerns that many South Africans have about a possible second coming of coronavirus pandemic. He drew parallels to how COVID-19 began—starting with a jump from animals to humans and quickly moving through travel hubs.
However, he pointed out some key differences to keep the public at ease:
While COVID-19 moved easily through the air, Hantavirus mostly stays between rodents and humans, with human-to-human spread being very rare.
Based on what we learned in 2020, South Africa’s tracing systems are much faster now, allowing officials to track 97 potential cases almost immediately.
Just as COVID-19 was linked to specific markets, this outbreak is being traced back to specific interests in rare wildlife and travel on cruise ships.
The Minister urged citizens to avoid panic, stating that knowledge is our best defense. While the virus is deadly, it is currently contained to a very small group of people who had direct contact with the primary sources. The government is focusing on the 97 reported cases to ensure that South Africa remains safe.
