Cruise ship passengers succumb to severe respiratory illness mid-voyage

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Tourists on an international cruise ship traveling from Southern Argentina to the Canary Islands via Cape Verde have died from severe acute respiratory infection, the health department confirmed.

It [department] reported being informed by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) about the medical condition and deaths of passengers.

According to the department, during its voyage along the South African coastline, several passengers on the ship developed severe acute respiratory infections.

These complications raised concerns regarding the passengers’ well-being and prompted an investigation by the relevant health authorities, the departmental spokesperson Foster Mohale said.

“The ship, carrying about 150 tourists from various countries, had departed Ushuaia, Southern Argentina, for the Canary Islands about three weeks ago.

“En route to its destination, the ship went past several islands, including mainland Antarctica, the Falklands, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan, St. Helena, and Ascension.

“In terms of medical cases, the first patient was a 70-year-old male passenger who suddenly became ill on the ship en route from Ushuaia to St. Helena Island and presented with fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea.

“Unfortunately, he passed away on arrival at St. Helena Island. His mortal remains are in St. Helena, awaiting repatriation to the Netherlands,” he explained.

Mohale reported that the second affected passenger, a 69-year-old female, is the spouse of the first patient who collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport while attempting to connect to a flight to the Netherlands.

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He continued, “She was taken to a nearby health facility around Kempton Park for medical attention and unfortunately passed away. Laboratory test results for the patient are outstanding.

“The third patient, a British national, also became ill while the ship was travelling from St. Helena to Ascension.

“Despite medical treatment provided to him at Ascension, his condition did not improve and necessitated his medical evacuation to a South African private health facility in Sandton for further medical management.

“His laboratory test results came back positive for Hantavirus – a rare but potentially deadly virus transmitted primarily by rodents. The patient is still in critical condition in isolation but receiving medical attention.”

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Mohale emphasized the department’s collaboration with the NICD and Gauteng Health Department for contact tracing to prevent the virus’s spread by identifying and monitoring those exposed to infected individuals.

He further stated that there is no need for public panic, as only two patients from the cruise ship have entered the borders.

“The World Health Organization is coordinating a multi-country response with affected islands and countries to contain the disease’s spread,” Mohale concluded.