June 01, 2026
An outbreak of a dangerous virus called hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship killed three people and infected many other passengers, triggering panic across the globe. The ship’s journey from Ushuaia in Argentina began on April 1 and included stops at several locations, including Tristan da Cunha and Ascension Island. Several passengers fell ill and authorities began taking measures to address the situation. The virus is transmitted to humans through contact with hantavirus-infected rodents or exposure to their saliva, urine or faeces and can lead to respiratory and other fatal ailments. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as the virus involved in this out break spreads from person to person only through close contact, the threat to global public health is low.
Watch this video to learn how hantavirus spreads
Image for representational purposes
ACTIVITY: Precautionary Measures
List 5 basic measures one can take to prevent the spread of germs and viruses.
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5. _______________________________
