The hantavirus cruise ship outbreak | Global News Podcast

Around 150 people from 23 countries are stranded on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, after a deadly outbreak of hantavirus. The World Health Organization has confirmed eight cases of the virus onboard the MV Hondius, including three people who have died.

The BBC’s health reporter Jim Reed tells us what we know about this strain of hantavirus, how it may have been transmitted to passengers on the ship, and whether – six years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic – the world is better at dealing with viral outbreaks.

The WHO has confirmed that, while most hantavirus infections occur through contact with rodents or their waste, the strain detected on the ship can be transmitted between humans. The ship has been anchored off the coast of Cape Verde. On Wednesday, three passengers were evacuated for treatment.

Spain has given permission for the ship to now travel to the Canary Islands, where the remaining passengers and crew will be examined, though the president of the Canary Islands says he will not allow the ship to dock there.

New episodes of the Global News Podcast are published twice a day. You can listen here: https://link.mgln.ai/GNP-YT

And you can find more of our Youtube episodes here: https://bbc.in/GlobalNewsPodcast

Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews

For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news

#BBCNews

00:00 Introduction
02:10 What is hantavirus?
03:17 How were passengers infected?
05:44 Are cruise ships a viral breeding ground?
07:11 How are passengers coping?
08:20 Reminiscent of Covid?
10:24 Has Covid prepared us for outbreaks?