The cruise ship outbreak that’s shaking the internet: The Hantavirus

By Tahj Galberth

On May 2 the MV Hondius cruise ship reported a mystery respiratory illness to the

CDC. Just six days later, the same ship reported 3 fatalities, all linking back to the same

infection: the Hantavirus. But before the bodies were cold, all corners of the internet were abuzz with the news of what they believe could be the next pandemic. Some expressed excitement at the potential pause on life a pandemic would give, while others called for extreme measures to be taken to prevent a potential outbreak -.The internet reacts to the Hantavirus in this post by @jgglsofficial on TikTok May 10 with the words "Nuke them".

Hantaviruses, according to the CDC’s website, is “a family of viruses that can cause serious illness or death”. The virus is mainly spread among rodents, with only

one type known as the Andes virus that can spread from human to human through

close contact. The CDC’s website also states that the virus has a 30 to 50% fatality rate, with no known cure.

The MV Hondius became the perfect site for the Hantavirus to spread. With 9 confirmed cases as of May 11th, the cruise ship has become both a morgue for one German passenger who died on May 2 and a quarantine zone, containing the luggage of all guests who had boarded.

The combination of the Hantavirus’s infection rate and high mortality rate made

it easy for the general public to latch onto, deeming it the “new COVID-19".

However, several experts claim that there is little for the public to worry about. Dr.

Ulysses Wu of Hartford Healthcare specifically stated in an interview with CT Insider “it is

definitely not the new covid” with the passengers that were once aboard now being monitored in multiple locations, the CDC is keeping a close eye on the potential spread.

Though the rest of the 139 passengers have shown no sign of illness, according to the CDC’s website, symptoms of the Hantavirus can show up 1 to 8 weeks after the initial infection. This is exactly why the passengers remain isolated, with the most recent case being confirmed in France today, according to reports from USA Today.

The passenger had just disembarked from the ship a day earlier. Despite expert consensus, the public remains anxious, with videos warning viewers to prepare for the world to shut down racking up thousands of views.