Namibia has not recorded any cases of Hantavirus despite a recent outbreak linked to a cruise ship travelling across the South Atlantic, executive director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services Penda Ithindi has said.

Ithindi on Friday said the ministry is closely monitoring the global and regional situation and has put precautionary measures in place.

“We wish to reassure the public that, while we have not reported any case of Hantavirus in Namibia, we are closely monitoring the global and regional situation and are taking all necessary precautions,” Ithindi said.

The outbreak was reported on a cruise ship travelling from Argentina to Cabo Verde. As of 6 May 2026, eight cases had been reported, including three deaths.

Five cases were confirmed as Hantavirus, while three remain suspected cases.

According to the ministry, the strain involved is the Andes virus, which is mainly found in Latin America and is the only known Hantavirus strain capable of limited human-to-human transmission.

World Health Organisation currently considers the public health risk linked to the outbreak to be low because transmission usually requires close and prolonged contact.

Hantaviruses are carried by rodents and can cause severe illness in humans. Infection mainly occurs through contact with infected rodents or exposure to contaminated urine, droppings or saliva.

Ithindi said symptoms may appear between one and eight weeks after exposure and can include headaches, muscle pain, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Severe cases can lead to breathing complications, kidney failure or shock.

Ithindi urged the public to avoid spreading misinformation and to rely on official communication from health authorities. He also advised the public to keep surroundings clean, store food safely and maintain proper hygiene to reduce contact with rodents.