Praise for swift action in controlling hantavirus outbreak

Members of the Portfolio Committee on Health commend the Department of Health and NICD for their rapid response to an unusual hantavirus outbreak Members of the Portfolio Committee on Health have praised the Department of Health and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) for their prompt and highly effective response in detecting and controlling the unusual hantavirus outbreak. They have praised the team’s diligence and prompt action in identifying a rare pathogen in an unusual setting. The Health Department and NICD briefed the committee on the hantavirus outbreak investigation findings, containment measures, and lessons learned to strengthen South Africa’s health security systems.

Former NICD deputy director and senior consultant Professor Lucille Blumberg said what they have achieved is a team effort. South Africa, particularly the NICD, has performed exceptionally well. “Within 24 hours of the notification coming or the alert being raised by a colleague of mine in the UK (on Friday), that there was a concern about an outbreak on a ship, we had confirmed hantavirus,” Blumberg said, adding that he alerted her to patient three, who was admitted to a hospital inJohannesburgwith pneumonia.

“I believe that is a remarkable effort to diagnose such an unusual pathogen in a unique setting within a short timeframe.” Blumberg said they were unaware of the person who collapsed at the airport. She was travelling and did not report illness before she left; therefore, there was nothing to alert that she may be ill. Later stages of the illness are very rapid after non-specific early symptoms. She collapsed at the airport, was taken to a nearby hospital, and died.