A deadly hantavirus outbreak has infected eight people and killed three aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship off West Africa, with 147 passengers and crew still on board. The ship is en route to the Canary Islands where Spanish authorities will assist with a safe disembarkation plan being developed by WHO experts. Health officials are downplaying pandemic fears, noting the virus doesn't spread easily between humans, while tracking 30 former passengers who disembarked in St. Helena.
Background
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents and can cause various diseases in people. While rare, hantavirus infections can be serious or fatal, with human-to-human transmission being extremely uncommon.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- May 9, 2026 at 04:42 AM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10