this post was submitted on 06 May 2026
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Title. Apparently there is a cruise ship quarantined right now because of this. And a guy at work was telling me some of the staff escaped? Not sure what exactly is going on but is it cause for concern?

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[–] einkorn@feddit.org 48 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

No need to panic. The virus is rarely transmitted from human to human or via air.

Cruise ships are a hot bed for diseases though: Many people in a confined space going to places with diseases that their body has no resistance against. So your best protection is simply not going near the ship.

On the topic of staff escaping: Given that the ship hasn't been able to dock so far I highly doubt that's true.

[–] vrek@programming.dev 25 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I agree but to give some context to the staff escaping, this probably was started because one of the people airvaced to a hospital was a staff member. They didn't "escape" they got sick and needed emergency medical treatment. I can believe someone heard a staff member was no longer on board and warped that into staff "escaping".

[–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

this source claims

Authorities in Switzerland also said a former passenger who tested positive was being treated at a Zurich hospital. The passenger had left the ship at St Helena and it was unclear how he had travelled to Switzerland or which countries he might have passed through. Swiss authorities insisted there was “no risk” to the public

It also claims

But a limited spread among close contacts has been observed in some previous outbreaks with the Andes strain, which has spread in South America, including Argentina, where the cruise trip started in March.

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[–] RecursiveParadox@piefed.social 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Updoot for calm approach, but it does appear that, at least in one case on the cruise ship herself, one passenger transmitted it to another.

NO claim it was airborne though. Could have been clothing, shared food, a zillion different vectors.

[–] einkorn@feddit.org 3 points 2 weeks ago

Yes, there has been human to human transmission, however as I wrote it rarely happens. Of course, close contact like in a cruise ship full of people is going to increase the risk.

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[–] sidelove@lemmy.world 31 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

To add on to the points here, hantavirus is lethal in a way that doesn't translate to widespread pandemics easily. Coronavirus is unique in that while it was 5:1 more lethal than similarly transmissible airborn viruses, that was the "Goldilocks zone" for a virus with its lethality and transmissibility to do maximum damage. Lots of excess death, but the average person generally only had a slightly rough go of it. Hantavirus has >30% lethality in many forms, and is extremely likely to burn itself out before any sort of epidemic status.

So ultimately, very unfortunate for those that contract it, but its characteristics put it way below pretty much every other airborn illness in terms of what keeps me up at night.

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

Covid plays the long game, though. People who only had a rough time of it can die as a result of it years later.

[–] fushuan@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 weeks ago

Sure, but that's the point, it's not lethal enough to kill you faster than you can spread it, yet lethal enough that you can't discount the aftereffects.

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[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Anyway, if they were smart, they would've started in Madagascar. I'm not worried, no way this is the one.

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[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 28 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I bought all the toilet paper that was in store. Just in case.

[–] nandeEbisu@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Good call, more global unrest could result in another warehouse being burned down.

[–] Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 16 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

There are several hundred cases of Hantavirus in the USA and various parts of South America every year. Doesn't make the news, doesn't turn into a pandemic.

You'll be fine unless you've been in close proximity to someone who's been infected.

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[–] Furbag@pawb.social 12 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Stressing out about it right now won't do you or anyone else any good. Just keep an ear to the ground for news updates. If they still have hantavirus under control and quarantined on the ship, it's a good sign that it will stay contained there.

I don't think we have another global pandemic on our hands, but you should take precautions now just in case - especially if it makes you feel less anxious about it. Wearing a mask in public costs you very little in terms of effort and is far more socially acceptable post-Covid.

[–] JennaR8r@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 2 weeks ago

keep an ear to the ground

Not advisable because hantavirus comes from mice whose habitat is on the ground.

[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 6 points 2 weeks ago

About 30 people from 12 different countries left the ship after the first infected person died and went home.

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[–] aburrito@sh.itjust.works 11 points 2 weeks ago

Worried? No. Earmark it though. Every few years there’s a new potential bug it’s just part of being a species, this one looks gnarly but too soon to tell. That being said, wear masks courteously and wash your hands. If things get bad again we’ll all find out together

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (5 children)

It's only newsworthy and scary for the people on that cruise ship since it can be passed pretty easily in such tight, close quarters.

Having worked on a cruiseship, it is insane how fast a single person with a cold becomes 80% of the crew having a cold even if that original person didn't leave their quarters the whole time they were ill.

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[–] InvalidName2@lemmy.zip 10 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

It's fucked up but you're seeing so much about it online and hearing so much about it because sensationalized fear translates to money and attention for those seeking such things.

That's not to say that this virus isn't dangerous and devastating to those affected, infected, and exposed to it. We definitely shouldn't be down playing that. It's just that this virus has no chance of causing a major disruption of our lives on a wide-spread global scale.

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[–] Subscript5676@piefed.ca 9 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Since there are comments saying that the hantavirus rarely spreads from human-to-human, it seems like the news hasn't spread fast enough...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/hondius-ship-hantavirus-andes-strain-9.7189281

Hantavirus is spread by rodents and, more rarely, people. To date, the Andes strain is the only type of hantavirus in which human-to-human transmission has been confirmed, usually through close contact, such as by sharing a bed or food, experts say.

Article title: WHO confirms Andes strain hantavirus on cruise ship passengers, with 3 transferring from ship for treatment

...

And just 13 minutes ago, this news came out: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/hantavirus-outbreak-cruise-ship-9.7190707; Contract tracing is underway.

[–] titanicx@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Subscript5676@piefed.ca 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Not saying it isn't. Just saying we've essentially hit the proverbial jackpot. Not a jackpot we like, but a jackpot nonetheless.

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[–] Gonzako@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago

Wait, theres a hentai virus?

[–] platypode@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Not very, it spreads human to human but it’s much harder to spread than flu or covid.

"We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that's happening among the really close contacts, the husband and wife, people who've shared cabins," said Maria Van Kerkhove, the director of epidemic and pandemic management at the World Health Organization, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday. … However, Debbink says, if this is indeed human-to-human transmission, the virus does not seem to be highly transmissible because then "you would have a lot more cases on the cruise ship, just from people being around each other in pretty close proximity."

Per NPR

[–] CombatWombat@feddit.online 9 points 2 weeks ago

Not very. There are a lot more "this could turn into a pandemic" incidents that don't turn into pandemics than those that do.

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Buy the toilet paper now before the shelves are empty.

[–] Successful_Try543@feddit.org 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

In France, it was red wine and condoms. But you do you.

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[–] a_gee_dizzle@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

This gives me flashbacks. I close my eyes and I see empty toilet paper shelves. The horror

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Whats weird is, unrelated to the pandemic, I always buy the massive pack of toilet paper. I think it's like 28 rolls. And I had bought that JUST before all the panic. It's just how I naturally do this. Buy the big one, and like a year later it runs out.

Then the panic starts, and my mom calls, and says "I was out shopping and picked you up some toilet paper, in case you need it!"

"Oh, I'm good. I just bought some."

"Just take the damn toilet paper! These shelfs are empty! You don't know when you'll get some!"

Gives me ANOTHER of the same size I just bought.

Then my dad calls.

"Hey, I know you sometimes have trouble finding time to go grocery shopping, so I got you some toilet paper. These stores are going crazy!"

"Oh, no no. I have more then enough."

"I already bought it, and I don't think you can return toilet paper."

Gives me a 16 roll pack.

Then my sister calls.

"Heeeeeey, I was out at Costco earlier, and these stores are running out of toilet paper. Luckily I got each of us a 60 roll pack."

"Nooooooo.......I have so much as it is! Mom AND dad gave me a bunch."

"Well I don't have room in my house for all this! I got one for you, and one for (other sister), and one for mom!"

gives me 60 more rolls

Then my other sister calls.

"Heeeeey, so (first sister) got me 60 rolls of toilet paper. I don't like the costco brand. So I'm giving it to you."

"You know she already got me one, rigUS #+ "Well I don't like it. So now its yours."

gives me ANOTHER 60 rolls

Then my aunt called.

"Hey do you need toilet paper?"

"NO!"

"Geez, don't get mad at me! I'm just helping you out. Take this, and only use it for emergancies."

gives me a 4 roll pack

I still have a decent amount of toilet paper. Both 60 packs remain unopened. I haven't looked in that closet to see exactly where I am, but I think I'm at like 60% unused.

[–] toynbee@piefed.social 5 points 2 weeks ago

I'm not sure whether I'm envious of your familial connections or glad I avoided similar ones.

Bruh, your family is the reason it got emptied 😂

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[–] TheReturnOfPEB@reddthat.com 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Three patients suspected of having the hantavirus were evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship and were on their way to the Netherlands for medical care, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. The three are German, Dutch and British nationals, including a British crew member, according to the WHO.

Tranquilo, Chuy.

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

I sat next to an army medic of the German-French brigade at a concert yesterday. When I scooted closer to her because other people wanted to sit down I said "Don't worry, I don't have the hanta virus" and she said "How do you know? You could catch it on the Schwäbische Alb, it's not a tropical virus."

So I'm not particularly worried, especially because journalists are notoriously bad at interpreting WHO communications.

[–] luciferofastora@feddit.org 3 points 2 weeks ago

journalists are notoriously bad at interpreting WHO communications

Or particularly good at making a sensational mountain that'll get clicks out of a molehill. Gotta sell your stories, after all.

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[–] Windex007@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Not at all. Not even a little bit.

~~Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare.~~

~~You get it from mouse shit. It's significantly more likely that the people who got it were all exposed to the same mouse shit than it is that they gave it to each other.~~

~~You should be way more worried about the mice on that ship coming off and shitting.~~

Edit: This strain is a little contagious. Still shouldn't be concerned.

[–] usernamesAreTricky@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 weeks ago

Starting this off with: I am not an epidemiologist and most of the epidemiologist I'm seeing online aren't yet too concerned

That being said, they have not found any rodents on the ship, though that does not mean they didn't just them in their search. The version on the ship has been confirmed to be the Andes Virus (ANDV) which is human-to-human transmissible in a way that most hantavirus are not

It's hard to say exactly how the virus will behave outside of a cruise ship (which are known for spreading diseases more than other locations), but we can potentially look at a past outbreak in 2018 in a small town for an idea

In this work, we described the isolation of the strain responsible for the largest ANDV PTP transmission outbreak, which occurred in the small town of Epuyén and began on November 2, 2018. This strain, ARG-Epuyén, exhibited a high capacity for PTP transmission, necessitating the implementation of quarantine measures to curtail further spread [8]. The median reproductive number (the mean number of secondary cases caused by an infected person) was 2.12 before control measures were implemented and subsequently dropped to below 1.0 by late January

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12201636/

[–] daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

I have read a lot about it because I have stressed a lot about it, I'm also naturally very skeptical so I dig down a lot.

This particular variant is the Andes strain of the virus which have been show to transmit human.

It's a virus that had existed for long time. And has already caused local epidemics. The most famous the Chilean Argentinian epidemic of 2019 where something like a dozen people died out of thirty infected.

Mortality is high (around 30% of infected, once you develop lung symptoms around 50%) but R0 number is low. Usually the studied R0 number has been below 1. This mean that each person rarely spread it to more than one other person. For comparison covid R0 was something between 2 and 4. This is the main reason to think it won't spread a lot.

This virus has been around a lot, but it's true that it has maybe never been in a situation like now with worries about quick international spread via airlines.

Currently most worries are about how easy is to actually spread human to human. There was a case of a flight attendant who was tested after a short contact with an infected but apparently has tested negative (her symptoms were apparently unrelated to the virus). So for now we must watch out if the people who were in flights with some of the infected have also been infected. If there are none or very few infected of those airplane passengers we could, most likely, breath safe, as the danger would be low. If we start to see infections after short contact then we should worry. As of this morning I start to believe that we are on the former scenario, as there has currently not been any positive test after a short contact.

My overall worries is that with globalization on the rise and international fast travel growing each year we will start seeing more and more of this epidemics, and it's a question of time. From my point of view is not if there will be a pandemic virus that would wipe out a high chunk of population. I think that's guaranteed if we don't change our traveling habits. It's just a matter of when.

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