South African and Cape Verde health authorities are recommending calm but heightened monitoring in the wake of a possible hantavirus epidemic linked to a cruise ship, with officials emphasising early detection and coordinated medical intervention.
Foster Mohale, a spokesperson for South Africa’s Health Ministry, urged those who may have had intimate contact with afflicted passengers to seek emergency medical assistance if symptoms appeared.
“We do not want to instill fear in people.” But only for those who come into close touch with these persons, and anyone who has suffered any of the indications and symptoms, such as a headache, fever, or body pain. Please do not waste time; instead, go to the nearest healthcare center for screening and testing so that we can confirm that you did not get this terrible illness,” he advised.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde’s Health Ministry announced on Monday that due to public health concerns, the ship will not be allowed to dock for the time being and will remain in open waters near the shore.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is collaborating with local and international partners to handle the situation on board the vessel and coordinate evacuations.
Ann Lindstrand stated that officials were balancing public health concerns with the need to care for people onboard.
“So it’s been really difficult for Cape Verdean authorities. They are dealing with a public health event. Of course, they’ve been thinking about population protection in Cape Verde. And, of course, they’ve been extremely careful to provide the necessary medical support to the patients on board who exhibit symptoms,” she said.
She said that medical crews have entered the ship several times in recent hours to check individuals and offer care in preparation for evacuation.
“In the last 20 hours, they have been with a big medical team, two doctors, one nurse, and one lab specialist on the boat three times to assess and give necessary medical assistance on the boat,” she said. So they will be moved from the boat to an ambulance waiting on shore, then to the airport, where they will most likely be flown to the Netherlands.
Authorities said the response is still focused on controlling the epidemic, assuring patient care, and reducing threats to the general public.
The suspected epidemic claimed the lives of three passengers and left at least three others critically ill.
