By: Zilungile Mkhize
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has once again called for calm and patience amid growing concerns over the spread of the Hantavirus.
This comes after the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that they are monitoring 82 passengers and six crew members who travelled on an AirLink flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg in April.
The monitoring process follows the death of a 69-year-old Dutch woman who was on board the flight and later died shortly after arriving in South Africa after contracting the Hantavirus.
Motsoaledi has reassured the public that human-to-human transmission of the virus remains extremely rare, adding that health authorities are continuing to closely monitor the situation and trace possible contacts linked to the case.
Health officials have also urged members of the public not to panic, saying there is currently no indication of a widespread outbreak in South Africa. Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with rodents, particularly through exposure to their urine, droppings or saliva. Symptoms can include fever, headaches, muscle pain and, in severe cases, respiratory complications.
