By REGINALD KANYANE
5 May 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Health will on 6 May 2026, be briefed by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi on the implications of the hantavirus outbreak. The committee said the briefing will focus on the findings of the department’s investigation into the outbreak, the measures that have been implemented to contain the spread of the virus, and the lessons identified to strengthen the resilience and effectiveness of South Africa’s health security systems.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Faith Muthambi said the briefing follows a media statement issued yesterday by the committee, in which the committee noted the Department of Health’s confirmation of fatalities and a critical illness linked to a severe acute respiratory infection involving international cruise ship passengers, as well as the subsequent confirmation that one patient in a South African hospital tested positive for the hantavirus.
Muthambi said the committee also noted the coordinated response by national and provincial health authorities, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and international partners, and reiterated the importance of strict adherence to infection prevention and control protocols, transparency, vigilance and ongoing public communication as investigations continue.
“The briefing will take place virtually on 6 May 2026 at 8:30am. Members of the public may follow sittings live on Parliament TV (DStv Channel 408), via live stream on Parliament YouTube channel and Twitter page on the links below. You may subscribe to the Parliament YouTube channel to receive instant notification of live feeds,” she said.
The Guardian 