Health and Wellness
- What is the risk of the outbreak of the hantavirus in the province and (b) what is the state of readiness to prevent an outbreak?
(a) The risk of a hantavirus outbreak in the Western Cape is considered extremely low.
There are currently no positive cases of hantavirus in the Western Cape. There has also been no documented person-to-person transmission in the province.
Hantavirus does not spread easily between people. Transmission is usually linked to exposure to infected rodents or their urine, droppings, or saliva. This means that the likelihood of wider community transmission in the Western Cape is very low.
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness nevertheless remains vigilant and continues to monitor the situation through its communicable disease surveillance and response systems. Any person who may be identified as having had a possible exposure would be assessed and monitored in line with public health protocols.
(b) The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is ready to activate the appropriate response mechanisms should the risk profile change.
The province has established systems for communicable disease surveillance, case investigation, contact identification, risk assessment, infection prevention and control, laboratory referral pathways, and public communication. These systems are informed by lessons learnt during COVID-19, including the importance of early detection, clear public messaging, strong coordination between spheres of government, and risk communication that helps the public understand the actual level of risk without creating unnecessary panic.
As part of its Risk Communication and Community Engagement approach, aligned with World Health Organization standards, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is able to activate targeted communication to healthcare workers, affected communities, partners, and the public where required. This includes providing clear information on symptoms, when to seek care, how exposure can be reduced, and what actions are being taken by health authorities.
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness will continue to work with national health authorities, laboratory partners, environmental health role players, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that any potential risk is identified early and managed appropriately.
