African countries currently face an increased risk of Hantavirus exposure and delayed detection due to significant gaps in diagnostic capacity, surveillance systems, and preparedness, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) warned on Tuesday.
The warning was issued during a joint technical webinar convened by the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO) and Africa CDC, where experts reviewed a recent international public health event involving Hantavirus cases linked to cruise ship travel, medical evacuation, and cross-border passenger movement.
The global health bodies warned that no African country is immune to the threat, stressing that the continent’s major vulnerability lies not only in current transmission levels but also in weak diagnostics, uneven surveillance systems, and inadequate preparedness at points of entry.
Hantaviruses are a group of zoonotic viruses primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their excreta. Some strains can cause severe respiratory or renal diseases with high fatality rates.
According to updates provided by WHO-AFRO, as of May 8, 2026, eight cases have been reported globally, including three deaths, with six confirmed cases currently under investigation.
Two cases were identified in South Africa and linked to a medical evacuation from Ascension Island, as well as contact tracing involving passengers who transited through St Helena following a cruise ship voyage.
Yap Boum, deputy head of the Africa CDC Mpox Response, said many African countries still lack the basic tools required for the rapid detection of Hantavirus infections.
Boum disclosed that 28 African countries, representing 70 percent of the continent, cannot rapidly confirm Hantavirus infections due to a lack of specific reagents and testing kits, while only about 12 countries, or 30 percent, currently have functional confirmation protocols in place.
He added that only 16 countries possess Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing capacity for Hantavirus detection, including Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Cameroon, and Mali, among others.
However, he noted that despite existing PCR infrastructure, many countries still face limited access to Hantavirus-specific diagnostic kits, reagents, and standardised clinical management protocols.
Boum also warned that ecological and environmental changes are increasing the risk of outbreaks, particularly through rising rodent populations linked to climate and environmental shifts.
He added that preparedness efforts remain weak due to poor genomic sequencing capacity, limited workforce training, and the absence of harmonised laboratory protocols across many African countries.
Patrick Otim of WHO-AFRO said more than 161 contacts are currently being monitored globally, with figures expected to change as investigations continue.
Otim noted that the situation remains fluid due to ongoing reporting from member states, particularly South Africa, but commended the country’s response and management efforts so far.
He added that while confirmed cases remain limited, cross-border movement and maritime travel have complicated contact tracing and surveillance operations.
Marie-Roseline Bélizaire, director of Emergency Preparedness and Response at WHO-AFRO, said the incident demonstrates how pathogens not commonly reported in Africa can rapidly become operational threats through global mobility networks.
Bélizaire urged countries to maintain a high index of suspicion for compatible illnesses among patients with relevant travel or exposure history, while strengthening port health systems, laboratories, and clinical response capacity.
She also stressed the need for clear, calm, and evidence-based public communication, urging member states to rely on existing WHO technical guidance.
Tolbert Nyenswah, director of the Centre for Public Health Emergency Management at Africa CDC, said the Hantavirus event highlights how infectious diseases can spread rapidly across borders through international travel and mobility systems.
He warned against underestimating the severity of Hantavirus infections, noting that some strains carry fatality rates of up to 40 per cent, while no vaccines or specific treatments are currently available for routine use.
Nyenswah added that growing global mobility, tourism, and trade routes continue to heighten exposure risks.
“Colleagues, we must not underestimate the seriousness of this pathogen. Our people have experienced real suffering, fear, loss of life, and social disruption. These experiences have taught us the importance of vigilance, preparedness, rapid detection, transparent communication, and collective action,” he said.
The health agencies urged African countries to strengthen laboratory systems, expand PCR testing capacity, improve infection prevention and control measures, and reinforce early warning and response mechanisms under the International Health Regulations framework.
