Hantavirus in South America is slightly different than North, and has been known to do H2H transmission,
I guess it's just a local thing. We know that deer mice (you can tell by the ears) carry hantavirus, and you never sweep up droppings dry. Always wet them first.
Re: Hantavirus
Posted: Wed May 06, 2026 6:37 pm
by Dr Strangelove
Key Events and Situation:
The Outbreak: The ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1st, 2026. The first symptoms appeared around April 6th, and the situation escalated as multiple passengers fell ill with respiratory distress (1:20 - 2:40).
Casualties: So far, there have been three confirmed deaths and at least eight suspected or confirmed cases among passengers and crew (0:48 - 0:54, 3:45 - 4:47).
Quarantine: Due to the risk of human-to-human transmission—a rare but concerning characteristic of the Andes strain—local authorities have prohibited the ship from docking, forcing all ~150 passengers into cabin quarantine (0:12 - 0:40, 4:48 - 4:55).
Scientific Context:
Nature of the Virus: Hantavirus is typically transmitted via contact with rodent excrement (dried urine or feces), but this specific Andes strain has shown instances of rare human-to-human transmission (5:28 - 6:08, 9:10 - 9:25).
Symptoms & Progression: Early symptoms resemble the flu (fever, aches), but the virus can quickly lead to severe respiratory issues and fluid in the lungs. It is life-threatening and currently has no vaccine or specific cure (2:00 - 2:11, 6:33 - 6:53).
Uncertainty: Experts are investigating whether the infection was brought on board from Argentina or if there is an active source of the virus still present on the ship, leading to a 21-day quarantine period to monitor for new cases (7:50 - 9:07).
Re: Hantavirus
Posted: Thu May 07, 2026 1:24 am
by Dr Strangelove
BREAKING: Health officials are now monitoring people in at least three US states for hantavirus exposure.
All linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak.
8 cases. 3 dead. Mortality rate up to 50%.
23 passengers already returned home before the outbreak was confirmed.
One is already sick.
Arizona, California, Georgia.
This is the worst possible time for an outbreak with a 50% mortality rate to go international.