South African airline Airlink is looking for the 82 passengers who boarded flight 4Z 132, from the island of St. Helena to Johannesburg on 25 April, due to potential exposure to Hantavirus.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), alongside South Africa’s public health authorities, are responding to a number of Hantavirus cases linked to passengers aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius.
According to Airlink, one of the ship’s 150 passengers left the cruise at St. Helena with the intention of returning to the Netherlands by air via Johannesburg aboard the airline’s flight 4Z 132.
In total, there were 82 passengers and 6 crew members on board, with Airlink unaware that any of the passengers were unwell.
Since then, the airline released a statement explaining that it had been informed that a passenger could have exposed others to the deadly virus.
“On Sunday, 3 May 2026, Airlink was notified by South Africa’s public health authorities that the passenger from the ship, who had been on the previous week’s flight, had passed away after she arrived in Johannesburg and that her death was thought to be attributable to the rare Hantavirus,” it said.
The airline added that, in accordance with health protocol, it provided the Department of Health with the names, contact details and seating allocation of the passengers and crew who had been on the flight.
Airlink is also contacting the passengers themselves, and advising them to contact the Department of Health, either by phone at +27 (0)76 273 4155 or via email using [email protected].
“The safety and well-being of our customers, personnel and equipment is Airlink’s priority,” said the airline.
“Airlink operates in strict accordance with all pertinent public health and aviation regulations and requirements and follows the guidance provided by the Department of Health and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).”
The airline added that its fleet of Embraer aircraft is equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, which continually “scrub” clean the cabin air, which is constantly renewed throughout a flight.
South Africa’s response to the Hantavirus
Earlier this week, the Department of Health (DoH) requested that the public stay calm following the confirmation of a Hantavirus case in a critically ill British national in South Africa.
The department noted that despite the man receiving medical treatment at Ascension, his condition did not improve and necessitated medical evacuation to a private healthcare facility in Sandton.
“His laboratory test results came back positive for Hantavirus—a rare but potentially deadly virus transmitted primarily by rodents. The patient is still in critical condition in isolation but receiving medical attention.”
The health department said that while the ship was travelling past South African shores, passengers experienced serious health complications initially thought to be severe acute respiratory infections.
The first patient, who did not survive, was a 70-year-old male passenger who presented symptoms including a fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea.
According to the department, the second affected passenger was the 69-year-old spouse of the first patient, who collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport while attempting to fly back to the Netherlands.
The DoH is working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Gauteng Health Department authorities to conduct contact tracing and identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed to the infected persons.
“In our view, there is no need for the public to panic because only two patients from the cruise ship have been within our borders,” said the department.
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