Inside an African lab that helped crack the hantavirus outbreak
A biomedical research center in Senegal played a crucial role in identifying a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship off Cape Verde. Within 24 hours, scientists at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar sequenced the virus's genome, confirming it was the Andes strain. This rapid response highlights the importance of global research networks in managing infectious disease outbreaks.
- ▪The Institut Pasteur de Dakar identified the Andes strain of hantavirus affecting passengers on a cruise ship.
- ▪Scientists produced a partial genome within 24 hours, aiding the World Health Organization's response.
- ▪The lab has supported responses to various outbreaks, including COVID-19, Marburg, and Ebola.
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Inside an African lab that helped crack the hantavirus outbreakSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPublished May 22, 2026, 03:10 PMUpdated May 22, 2026, 03:15 PMListenDAKAR, May 22 - The call for help came in early May: a cruise ship off Cape Verde was stranded, with passengers suspected of infection by a deadly strain of hantavirus that kills about one in three of its victims.The vessel had stopped at several remote islands, and the World Health Organization needed answers. Could a biomedical research center in Senegal, an hour's flight away, support a team collecting specimens from suspected cases on board?The plane landed in Senegal in the early hours of May 5.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.