Members of the Portfolio Committee on Health commend the Department of Health and NICD for their rapid response to an unusual hantavirus outbreak
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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 in Johannesburg with 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.
She said they confirmed the diagnosis in South Africa, and they had the specimens of the patient who was admitted. Diagnosis was confirmed using a routine blood count specimen from patient two, retrieved on Sunday morning before it was discarded. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was positive.
Blumberg said contact tracing began on Saturday for all contacts of cases 2 and 3 at OR Tambo International Airport, the hospital near the airport, and those involved in transporting or admitting case 3.
Contact monitoring for fever was initiated before the illness was identified and is progressing well. Due to the long six-week incubation period, monitoring will continue, with plans to re-identify high-risk contacts for intensified observation.
“I think as a country, we’ve done extremely well, and I want to pay tribute to the NICD team, some of whom are the new director, and particularly our laboratory,” Blumberg said.
She said they had several consultations with South American counterparts, who have a lot of experience with hantavirus. There have been lab consultations. The international community has come together to support this outbreak, coordinated through the World Health Organization (WHO). On Saturday, there was already an international health regulation alert to the WHO, and there was the first meeting
“This is quite an extraordinary response for what was an unknown, unusual virus in an unusual setting,” Blumberg said.
Committee member Dr Karl Willem du Pré le Roux called the response “extremely impressive”, saying that to find the virus was like a needle in a haystack.
He said this shows the country has excellent systems in place, but noted that not all viruses that enter the country can be detected.
“I do want to just really commend the team and Prof Blumberg for actually finding this virus… I just want to recognise that and say thank you to the team for the vigilance and the quick action,” Le Roux said.
Philippus Adriaan van Staden thanked the health sector for the effective tracing and response.
However, he emphasised the need for consistent public communication, highlighting that a major error during the Covid-19 pandemic was the initial lack of clear information and awareness.
“I would ask that effective communication from the department and from the minister, if possible, be communicated to the public daily,” Van Staden said.
Committee Chairperson Faith Muthambi said the response was heartwarming and the team had to be commended, as it helped prevent panic.
She said the team must continue to inform the public about lab results and contact tracing progress, while reassuring South Africans of the country’s limited exposure.