I generally cover virus, and this is what I'm reading about the Hantavirus outbreak...
All of the big questions out of the way first...
1. Will we all die from Hantavirus? Absolutely not.
2. Will there be another pandemic? Almost certainly not.
3. Will I catch Hantavirus from this outbreak? Were you on the MV Hondius? Have you hugged, kissed, or shared food or a room with anyone who was on board the MV Hondius?
If yes - It’s possible.
If no - Almost certainly not.
4. Is this a super variant? No. Genetic testing reveals it's the exact same strain that is endemic to Argentina and the Andes region, with a couple of hundred cases a year (and none of those have ever previously caused a pandemic). It has not mutated, nor is it likely to.
4. Should we lose sleep fretting? No.
Hantavirus was in the news last year when the wife of actor Gene Hackman died from it. It is back in the news because of an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius.
