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A British national who contracted hantavirus aboard a luxury cruise ship is showing signs of recovery at a hospital in Johannesburg.
A spokesperson for the South African health ministry, Foster Mohale, confirmed that while the patient remains ill, his clinical condition is gradually improving following his medical evacuation to South Africa late last month.
The man was airlifted from Ascension Island on April 27 after experiencing a fever, pneumonia-like symptoms, and respiratory distress.
He had been a passenger on the MV Hondius, a vessel that had been at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak.
This particular strain, known as the Andes hantavirus, is usually found in South America and is primarily spread to humans by rodents.
The outbreak on the ship, which departed from Argentina with a mostly Western passenger list, has already turned fatal for three others.
A German national and a couple from the Netherlands have died since the virus began spreading on board.
Health authorities continue to monitor the situation as the British patient receives ongoing treatment in Gauteng.
