Cruise ship hantavirus latest: Number of confirmed rat virus cases increases - as Trump gives update

[Smithy]

The number of confirmed cases of hantavirus linked to an outbreak on a cruise ship has risen to six, the World Health Organisation said. It comes as the vessel at the heart of the outbreak is set to dock in Spain tomorrow.

Follow the latest - https://news.sky.com/story/three-dead-as-virus-breaks-out-on-atlantic-cruise-ship-13503266

 

[Mary Stetler]

There have always been hanta virus. The one from South America affects the lungs but it is not generally a problem as most people are not confined to small spaces. The air in cruise ships is probably recirculated and some deaths have always happened between the South American type and the type from SW US and Mexico but not so much the world needs to fear. Maybe look into posts by Dr John Campbell, a British Dr, on Youtube.

 

[Yvonne Smith]

The good ting is that the hantavirus only comes from being in contact with infected rodents, so one person can’t catch it from another person. It is pretty bad that a cruise ship has that many rats on board that it has infected the people on the ship, and they are going to have to totally remove all of those rats and then disinfect the whole shop before it can be used again.

Some people are acting like this is going to become another pandemic, which is silly, since it is not an airborne virus or one that can be passed from one human to another. It this were not an election year, it probably would not even make the news here in the United States. In the photos, you can see that there are some people all wrapped up in the protective garments, and other people just walking around in normal clothes.

 

[Nancy Hart]

I believe this is what Gene Hackman's wife died from. Glad it's not carried by squirrels. I'd be dead long ago.

Edited to add: Just Googled it. Squirrels are rodents. They can carry it, but not as likely.