As we continue to respond to the hantavirus incident, tests performed by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa have indicated that the Andes virus is the underlying cause.
This is the only known variant capable of human-to-human spread. The risk to the wider population remains low and transmission requires prolonged close personal contact.
This does not affect our planning or response, which has been based on this assumption from the outset.
As we have indicated previously, we are acting from an abundance of caution and will continue to do so.
Please continue to follow the public health advice. A more detailed update will be issued later today and then daily thereafter.
Thank you for your continued co-operation.
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