NCDC
Iyunade Grace
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has stepped up nationwide surveillance and issued a public health advisory following reports of a hantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship travel across multiple countries. The advisory, signed by NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris on May 8, 2026, said the agency is closely monitoring the global situation while reassuring Nigerians that no confirmed cases have been recorded in the country. The move is a precautionary step to ensure early detection and rapid response if the situation changes.
The outbreak began on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, which departed Argentina on April 1, 2026, and sailed through remote regions including Antarctica, South Georgia, and the South Atlantic. As of May 4, WHO reported seven cases, including two confirmed and five suspected, with three deaths connected to the voyage. Laboratory testing in South Africa confirmed infection with the Andes virus strain in one critically ill passenger. The ship was later moored off Cabo Verde, with passengers and crew from 23 nationalities on board.
NCDC said the advisory became necessary because of growing international concern and the need for countries to remain vigilant against emerging infectious diseases. The agency noted that while the event involves a limited number of cases linked to the cruise, investigations and contact tracing are still ongoing globally. Current reports indicate the risk to the general public remains low, and no evidence of human-to-human spread outside close contact has been documented in Nigeria or globally.
Hantaviruses are primarily carried by rodents and infect humans through contact with infected rodents or exposure to their urine, droppings, saliva, or contaminated dust particles. The Andes strain involved in the current outbreak is one of the few known to allow limited human-to-human transmission, usually through prolonged close contact. The NCDC stressed that in Nigeria, the main risk remains environmental exposure to rodents, not widespread community transmission.
Symptoms of hantavirus infection often start like a typical viral illness, with fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, and gastrointestinal symptoms. In severe cases, the disease can progress to respiratory complications, breathing difficulties, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The agency said while some forms of hantavirus infection can cause severe illness, the disease remains relatively rare and survivable if medical care is sought early.
To reduce risk, the NCDC urged Nigerians to maintain strict environmental hygiene by keeping homes and surroundings clean to discourage rodent infestation. It advised proper food storage, safe waste disposal, avoiding direct contact with rodents and their droppings, and using protective equipment when cleaning potentially infested areas. Regular hand hygiene and adherence to infection prevention measures in communities and health facilities were also recommended.
The agency confirmed that Nigeria’s surveillance systems for epidemic-prone and zoonotic diseases remain active and are being enhanced in response to the global alert. NCDC said it is working with port health services, state epidemiologists, and point-of-entry authorities to monitor travelers and strengthen reporting channels. Nigerians were encouraged to rely on verified health information and report any unusual symptoms or public health concerns through the agency’s toll-free hotline 6232.
The NCDC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health and providing timely updates as more information becomes available internationally. It aligned its messaging with WHO and CDC assessments that the current outbreak does not pose a pandemic threat, but said vigilance is necessary given the unpredictable nature of zoonotic diseases. The agency said it will continue to review the situation and adjust measures as needed to protect Nigerians.
