CAPE TOWN, May 4 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Department of Health officially confirmed on Monday the deaths of two tourists from a severe acute respiratory infection aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, saying it is conducting contact tracing and urging the public not to panic.
In a statement, the department said it had been informed by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) about "the medical condition and reported deaths of passengers of an international cruise ship MV Hondius travelling from Southern Argentina to Canary Islands via Cape Verde."
The ship, carrying about 150 tourists from various countries, departed Ushuaia in southern Argentina roughly three weeks ago and travelled past several locations, including mainland Antarctica, the Falklands, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, St Helena and Ascension Island.
According to the statement, while the vessel was passing South African shores, "some of the passengers experienced serious health complications arising from what was initially considered severe acute respiratory infections."
Detailing the cases, the department said the first patient, a 70-year-old male passenger, fell ill during the voyage from Ushuaia to St Helena Island, presenting symptoms including fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
"Unfortunately, he passed away on arrival at St Helena Island," the statement said, adding that his remains are awaiting repatriation to the Netherlands.
The second patient, a 69-year-old female and spouse of the first, collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg while in transit to her home country.
She was transported to a nearby health facility but later died. The department noted that "laboratory test results for the patient are outstanding."
A third patient, a British national, also became ill during the journey and was medically evacuated to a private health facility in Johannesburg.
"His laboratory test results came back positive for hantavirus -- a rare but potentially deadly virus transmitted primarily by rodents," the department confirmed, adding that the patient remains in critical condition in isolation while receiving treatment.
Health authorities said they are working with the NICD and the Gauteng Department of Health to conduct contact tracing in order to identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed.
The department emphasized that there is no cause for public alarm.
"There is no need for the public to panic because only two patients from the cruise ship have been within our borders," it said. "The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating a multi-country response with all affected islands and countries to contain further spread of the disease."
On Sunday, the WHO said that, in addition to the one confirmed case of hantavirus, there are five additional suspected cases and three of the six affected individuals have died.
The agency said detailed investigations are going on, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations, while medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew.
"WHO is facilitating coordination between member states and the ship's operators for medical evacuation of two symptomatic passengers, as well as full public health risk assessment and support to the remaining passengers on board," it added. ■