South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases identified the Andes variant of hantavirus, a strain capable of rare human-to-human transmission, in the deadly outbreak aboard the Hondius cruise ship.
The strain — the only hantavirus known to spread between people — typically transmits through very close contact, underscoring concerns among health officials investigating the cluster of infections and deaths linked to the Dutch-flagged vessel.
Listen/read: Hantavirus: Calm urged as SA health teams race to trace contacts
You can also listen to this podcast on iono.fm here.
The ship will set course…
Traditional Healing: Traditional healers, or sangomas, play an essential role in
many communities, providing spiritual and medical care based on indigenous knowledge.

Brick Mooch
Great dynasties of history
Egypt: Ayyubid
South Africa: Zulu
China: Ming
Greece: Helena
Italy: Medici
U.S.: Duck
Doll Champagne
Fun South African Fact: The waters surrounding the 2,500km long coastline are teeming with life. You’ll find great white sharks, African penguins, dolphins and much much more in South Africa’s oceans. Many travellers visit the coast to watch the annual whale migrations. In Hermanus, in the Western Cape, you can see hundreds of whales from June to late November. Simon’s Town, another coastal Western Cape town, is home to Boulder’s Beach. Here you can swim alongside colonies of African Penguins!