The Government of Lesotho has issued a detailed briefing to the National Assembly on the Ministry of Health’s preparedness measures against the Hantavirus outbreak.
The statement was delivered on Tuesday by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health, ’Mamokete Ntšekhe.
The briefing comes in the wake of a highly publicised international outbreak linked to the luxury expedition cruise ship MV Hondius.
The vessel departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, and sailed through remote Antarctic and South Atlantic regions, including the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and isolated islands, before reaching the Canary Islands in mid-May 2026.
A Dutch woman, widow of the first victim who died on the ship, disembarked at Saint Helena. She collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on April 25, 2026, while trying to board a flight home.
She was taken to a hospital but died the next day (26 April). Post-mortem tests confirmed she had the Andes hantavirus.
A British man fell seriously ill on the ship near Ascension Island. He was medically evacuated to Johannesburg on April 27 and treated in intensive care (ICU) at a private hospital. He tested positive for the same virus and was one of the early confirmed cases.
South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Johannesburg was one of the first labs to confirm Hantavirus infection and identify the specific Andes virus strain through testing and genomic sequencing.
This early confirmation helped trigger the international alert.
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) currently assesses the global risk as low, Lesotho’s health authorities are calling for heightened vigilance.
According to the government statement, the outbreak originated aboard the MV Hondius. Between 1 April and 13 May 2026, the vessel travelled through remote areas including Ushuaia in Argentina, Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and several isolated Atlantic islands, before returning to Europe.
Globally, 11 cases have been confirmed, with three deaths — a fatality rate of approximately 27 percent. South Africa has recorded two cases, one of which was fatal after the patient was transferred to a hospital in Johannesburg.
At the 79th World Health Assembly, the WHO Director-General urged member states to maintain rigorous contact tracing. Passengers and crew from the ship remain under strict quarantine until late June.
Health officials have clarified that Hantaviruses are primarily rodent-borne. Humans usually become infected through contact with rodent urine, saliva, or droppings, particularly in enclosed spaces. The strain in this outbreak is the Andes virus. While human-to-human transmission is generally rare for most hantaviruses, limited person-to-person spread occurred aboard the cruise ship due to close quarters. No sustained community transmission has been reported globally.
The Ministry of Health has warned that symptoms can range from mild to severe. Early signs include fever, muscle weakness and fatigue. In serious cases, the virus can cause severe respiratory distress requiring oxygen support, as well as complications affecting blood pressure and organ function.
Given that thousands of Basotho regularly travel to South African hubs such as Gauteng and the Western Cape, the Ministry has activated an immediate multi-sectoral response.
Health and immigration officials will intensify screening of people and goods at all major ports of entry, active tracing and monitoring of individuals who have recently travelled to affected areas, and training for health workers and immigration officers to enable rapid identification of symptoms.
There is also public education on basic hygiene, including regular handwashing and use of alcohol-based sanitisers and strengthened information-sharing with South African authorities and the WHO to ensure laboratory readiness.
“Because Lesotho and South Africa share such porous borders, we cannot afford to be complacent,” the ministerial statement concluded.
“We must remain vigilant, observe strict hygiene protocols, and ensure our health facilities and laboratories are fully prepared to protect the nation.”
The public is advised to report any flu-like symptoms, especially after travel, to the nearest health facility immediately. Further updates will be issued as the situation evolves.
Summary
- The Government of Lesotho has issued a detailed briefing to the National Assembly on the Ministry of Health’s preparedness measures against the Hantavirus outbreak.
- The vessel departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, and sailed through remote Antarctic and South Atlantic regions, including the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and isolated islands, before reaching the Canary Islands in mid-May 2026.
- Health and immigration officials will intensify screening of people and goods at all major ports of entry, active tracing and monitoring of individuals who have recently travelled to affected areas, and training for health workers and immigration officers to enable rapid identification of symptoms.
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
