The World Health Organization (WHO) is tracing 82 passengers and six crew members who were on a flight from a British island in the Atlantic Ocean on April 25, 2026, following the death of a Dutch man from hantavirus. The man's wife, also Dutch, was among the passengers on the flight operated by South African carrier Airlink, according to AFP.
Hantavirus is a rare but severe viral disease transmitted through rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. It can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which has a high fatality rate. The WHO has not confirmed any additional cases among the flight's occupants as of May 6, 2026.
The flight originated from the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic. The Dutch couple had been on a cruise ship before the husband fell ill and died. The wife is reportedly in good health and under medical observation.
Health authorities are contacting all individuals on the flight to monitor for symptoms and provide guidance. The incubation period for hantavirus is typically one to eight weeks, so close observation continues.
