African health authorities are strengthening cross-border disease surveillance and emergency response following the hantavirus outbreak linked to an international cruise ship that triggered a multicountry public health response.

Speaking during a joint webinar organized by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, or Africa CDC, on Tuesday, experts said the incident demonstrated how infectious diseases can quickly spread across borders through global travel, underscoring the need for stronger international coordination and preparedness.

The outbreak is associated with the MV Hondius ship, where several passengers developed infections linked to the Andes strain of hantavirus after traveling in South America before boarding the vessel. The ship later docked at several locations, including Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, prompting an international response involving contact tracing, medical evacuations and passenger monitoring.

Health officials said the overall public health risk remains low despite the seriousness of the virus, but said the incident highlights the growing need for coordinated preparedness in an increasingly interconnected world.

"This recent importation into Africa demonstrates once again that no region is insulated from emergent and reemerging health threats," said Tolbert Nyenswah, director of the Center for Public Health Emergency Management of Africa CDC.

He said more than 161 contacts across different countries globally are currently under follow-up, while African health authorities continue to strengthen surveillance and preparedness measures at ports of entry and health facilities.

The experts emphasized that hantavirus differs from COVID-19 and does not spread easily between people. Human infections are primarily linked to exposure to infected rodents, particularly through contact with contaminated urine, droppings or saliva.

"Preparedness should not be equated with panic," said Marie-Roseline Belizaire, director of emergency preparedness and response at the WHO Africa regional office, noting that countries should focus on strengthening surveillance systems, laboratory readiness and evidence-based communication with the public.

She said the outbreak demonstrated the value of international health coordination mechanisms, which enabled rapid information sharing, laboratory confirmation, passenger tracing and cross-border response efforts.

Yap Boum II, head of emergency preparedness and response at Africa CDC, highlighted the importance of the "one health" approach, which integrates human, animal and environmental health systems to improve detection and prevention of zoonotic diseases, which are infectious illnesses that spread between animals and humans.

He said effective prevention requires stronger environmental management, rodent control, community awareness, surveillance systems and coordination across sectors, including public health, urban planning and environmental protection.

Vigilance urged

While hantavirus is not considered endemic in Africa, officials said countries should remain vigilant and strengthen preparedness systems to rapidly identify and respond to imported cases.

This comes as several African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria, have stepped up surveillance and preparedness measures following the outbreak.

Kenya's Ministry of Health said it has intensified screening at airports and seaports, particularly for travelers arriving from affected cruise routes, while strengthening digital disease surveillance and laboratory coordination systems for early detection of unusual respiratory illnesses.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has also issued a public health advisory and intensified surveillance for emerging infectious diseases, although authorities said no hantavirus case has been confirmed in the country.

Health officials in both countries have urged the public to maintain proper sanitation, safely store food, avoid contact with rodents and seek medical attention if symptoms such as fever or breathing difficulties develop after travel to affected areas.

The health officials, during the webinar, repeatedly pointed to Africa's experience of managing Ebola, COVID-19, cholera and Lassa fever outbreaks as evidence that the continent has developed stronger emergency response capabilities in recent years.

"We must continue to strengthen detection and reporting systems, improve diagnostic capabilities, and reinforce preparedness capabilities at points of entry across Africa," said Nyenswah.