British Army medics parachuted onto the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha to assist a British national with suspected hantavirus linked to the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The man, who lives on the island, developed symptoms weeks after leaving the vessel and is currently stable in isolation. The UK military also air-dropped oxygen supplies after stocks on the island reached critical levels. Six hantavirus cases have been confirmed so far, including two Britons receiving treatment in South Africa and the Netherlands. Authorities said the risk to the wider public remains very low. (PC: BBC)

Spanish medical teams are preparing to receive the MV Hondius in Tenerife, Spain, after three passengers died from the rare Andes strain of hantavirus. The cruise ship arrived after weeks at sea and will remain isolated in the port of Granadilla. Doctors in Spain will examine all passengers and crew before they disembark. More than 100 people from 23 countries will be flown home on charter planes. The World Health Organization said the risk to the public in Spain is low. Spanish hospitals are on standby. Around 30 crew members will stay on board and sail the ship to the Netherlands. (PC: BBC)

Scientists in Thailand have discovered a new coronavirus in bats that may be able to infect humans. The virus belongs to the sarbecovirus family, which includes the viruses that caused SARS and Covid-19. Researchers found that the virus can attach to human ACE2 receptors, which help viruses enter cells. However, there is no evidence that the virus has infected humans or is spreading among people. Scientists said there is no immediate danger. They stressed the need to monitor bat viruses closely. The study highlights the importance of wildlife surveillance and global preparedness to prevent possible future outbreaks and protect public health worldwide.

The World Health Organization has clarified that the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius is not comparable to Covid-19 or influenza, stressing that the virus spreads very differently. WHO officials said the Andes strain involved can pass between humans only through prolonged close contact, unlike airborne viruses such as Covid. The outbreak has so far caused three deaths and several confirmed infections across multiple countries. Health authorities are tracing passengers and monitoring possible exposures after some travelers disembarked before quarantine measures began. WHO believes the outbreak remains limited and manageable, though additional cases may still emerge due to the virus’s long incubation period. (PC: NDTV)

The World Health Organization said the current Hantavirus outbreak is not similar to Covid-19 and is unlikely to become a pandemic. WHO official Maria Van Kerkhove said hantavirus spreads very differently and mainly requires close and prolonged contact. The outbreak is linked to a cruise ship and involves the Andes strain, which can rarely spread between humans. WHO officials said public health measures like contact tracing and isolation can stop further spread. The organisation added that the risk to the public remains low. Hantavirus usually spreads through contact with infected rodent urine, saliva or droppings.

A third UK national is suspected to have contracted Hantavirus linked to an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. The person is currently on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha. Two other UK nationals have confirmed infections and are being treated in the Netherlands and South Africa. Five hantavirus cases have been confirmed so far, including one passenger who died. UK health officials said British passengers returning from the ship may need to isolate for 45 days. The World Health Organization called the outbreak a serious incident but said the risk to the public remains low. (PC: Reuters)

The World Health Organization has dismissed comparisons between the recent Hantavirus outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing that the situation remains contained and manageable. Concern rose after eight cases, including three deaths, were linked to an outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. WHO official Maria Van Kerkhove said hantavirus is a well-known virus that has existed for years and differs significantly from COVID-19. WHO officials believe the outbreak will remain limited if public health measures, international cooperation and contact tracing continue effectively, while maintaining that the overall public health risk remains low. (PC: Reuters)

Health teams in hazmat suits evacuated suspected hantavirus patients from cruise ship MV Hondius as global authorities stepped up monitoring of a rare outbreak linked to the Andes strain. The Dutch-flagged vessel, carrying about 150 passengers and crew, reported at least eight confirmed or suspected cases after three passengers died. The World Health Organization said the Andes strain is the only hantavirus known to occasionally spread between humans through close contact. Passengers were confined to cabins while medical teams carried out testing and contact tracing. Spain agreed to receive the ship under controlled conditions as health agencies across Europe and South America continued surveillance and quarantine planning. (PC: NDTV)

Scientists say temperature alone does not show the full danger of summer heat in India. High humidity can stop sweat from cooling the body, raising the risk of illness and death. Experts track this using wet-bulb temperature, which measures heat and moisture together. A Penn State study found healthy adults struggled to control body temperature at 31°C wet-bulb temperature, lower than earlier estimates. Coastal and monsoon-hit parts of India face higher risk because humid air is common there. The India Meteorological Department has warned of above-normal heatwave days this summer. Experts say humid heat can be more dangerous than dry heat. (PC: India Today)

Bangladesh has started an emergency vaccination drive after a fast-spreading measles outbreak is suspected to have killed over 100 people, mostly children, since mid-March. Health officials reported more than 7,500 suspected cases, with over 900 confirmed. The surge is far higher than 2025 totals. Officials said many infected children are below nine months, the age for routine vaccines. “Vaccines are foundational to child survival,” said a Unicef representative, warning young children are at serious risk. Authorities linked the outbreak to gaps in immunisation, delayed campaigns since 2020, and vaccine shortages tied to procurement and political disruption. (PC: BBC)