07/05/2026
𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 | 𝟬𝟲 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 - The World Health Organisation and South African public health authorities are responding to a number of Hantavirus cases involving people on an Atlantic Ocean cruise ship. One of the ship’s passengers left the cruise at St Helena Island with the intention of returning to the Netherlands by air via Johannesburg onboard Airlink’s flight, 4Z 132, from the island on 25th April 2026.
In total, there were 82 passengers and 6 crew onboard the flight.
At the time Airlink was unaware that any of the passengers were unwell.
On Sunday, 03 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.
In accordance with health protocols, Airlink provided the Dept of Health with the names, contact details and seating allocation of the passengers and crew who had been on the flight. This was to enable the health authorities to commence contact tracing.
Airlink is also contacting passengers who were on that flight and advising them to contact South Africa’s Department of Health, either by phone on +27 (0) 76 273 41 55 or by email: [email protected]
The safety and well-being of our customers, personnel and equipment is Airlink’s priority. 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).
In addition, Airlink’s fleet of Embraer aircraft are equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. These continually “scrub” clean the cabin air which is constantly renewed throughout a flight.
