Virus Financial News

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.It seems like the script of a horror film. Three confirmed cases of hantavirus and five suspected ones among 150 people aboard a cruise ship that left Argentina last month have sent global health authorities into a tizzy. Three of the eight are dead, as reported, and efforts are on to identify possible carriers among other passengers and those with whom the infected may have come in contact before showing symptoms.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.The Union health ministry has initiated strict precautionary public health measures amid the spreading Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, according to two officials familiar with the matter.The outbreak, driven by the Bundibugyo virus strain, has rapidly intensified across the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.The move follows the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.The epidemic, according to the latest WHO situation reports, has already resulted in at least 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province alone. Cross-border transmission has also been confirmed, with imported cases reported in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, signalling a high risk of regional spread due to intense population mobility and trade links.Key components of India’s preparedness strategy include a comprehensive review of standard operating procedures governing passenger screening, surveillance, quarantine measures and clinical case management.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.I knew hantavirus had reached a tipping point when my own 12-year-old called out to us after bedtime to ask: “What is hantavirus, and do we have to worry about it?”The virus that started with an outbreak on a cruise ship has infiltrated the public consciousness, and it feels like déjà vu: resurrecting painful memories of the Covid-19 pandemic that shut down the world.There are lots of questions, misinformation and, understandably, fears. But what do we actually know about the hantavirus that has infected at least 11 people, killed three of them and led to the quarantining of dozens more across the globe? How infectious—or not—is it, and how does it spread?U.S.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.The day before the MV Hondius’s latest sailing, the crew of the merchant vessel gathered for dinner in Ushuaia, the Argentine resort town known as the gateway to Antarctica.“One Table, Nine Nations, One Epic Journey,” chef Khabir Moraes posted on Instagram on March 31.The Oceanwide Expeditions cruise is now enmeshed in a deadly hantavirus outbreak. Three people have died and at least five more have been infected. Health authorities and airlines are racing to control further spread of the virus.Infections are a risk on cruises given the close quarters.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.On April 1st MV Hondius, a cruise ship carrying around 150 passengers and crew, set sail from Argentina towards the island nation of Cabo Verde. By early May an outbreak of hantavirus was reported on board, sending international health authorities scrambling to contain further spread and treat those taken ill.As of May 6th three cases among those on board had been confirmed and five more were suspected. Of those eight people, three have died.

Mint explains what we know so far about the new variant, and how concerned you should be.The latest variant is a part of the Omicron strain that swept across the globe in late 2021. It was first detected in 2024 in South Africa but had remained dormant until now, causing it to be dubbed ‘cicada’ (after the insect that remains underground for long periods before suddenly emerging).It has an unusually large number of mutations in its spike protein compared to LP.8.1, the strain used as the basis for the 2025-26 vaccines.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: Facing a surge in zoonotic threats, India is set to use artificial intelligence (AI) to detect emerging pathogens that jump from animals to humans, according to officials and documents reviewed by Mint. The initiative, led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the National One Health Mission (NOHM), marks a shift from reactive reporting to predictive surveillance.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: India’s drug regulator has signalled zero-tolerance for polio-related risk, turning down a proposal by National Dairy Development Board's (NDDB) subsidiary Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL) to start human trials of its ‘six-in-one’ paediatric vaccine over concerns it could undermine the country’s polio-free status, according to two government officials and documents reviewed by Mint.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: With infectious disease outbreaks becoming more frequent and complex, the Union government is recasting its approach to how India detects, tracks and contains communicable diseases, and the upcoming Union budget could mark a decisive shift.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. India launched a surveillance drive following the identification of two suspected cases of Nipah virus (NiV) in West Bengal on 11 January. With two patients—both nurses—under observation at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Kalyani in West Bengal, the Central government has activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) in New Delhi.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Despite being among the great scientific breakthroughs of all time, vaccines are under fire as top government officials cast doubts on their safety. But as doctors and vaccine deniers spar over the safety of vaccines, emerging evidence finds that some vaccines aren’t only good at preventing the disease or virus they target but also might have broader or even unrelated health benefits.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Do individuals matter more than the collective? Is a world where every human contentedly works towards common goals better than one in which selfish motives constantly clash? Is human creativity, born of individual expression, worth the price we pay for it in violence? These are some of the questions Pluribus, the new Apple TV+ drama by Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, asks without undue subtlety. We are just five episodes in, but they are not the subtext of the show—they are the show.

UK has identified 24 pathogens that could pose the greatest risk to public health. A new watchlist has been compiled in an effort to guide researchers and investors into developing new tools to fight and diagnose these infectious diseases.

Elon Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, clapped back at her father after he disowned her in a series of posts on X. Wilson posted a video on her social media mocking her father, which featured a screenshot of Elon Musk’s tweet where he dead-named his estranged daughter. Elon Musk, 53, on March 23, reacting to a recent article about Wilson’s recent interview, said that Wilson was killed by the woke mind virus. The Tesla chief mentioned Vivian’s birth name and added that the woke mind virus will now “die”. The statement ignored Vivian’s transition and preferred pronouns.

Savage Pet has recalled some products that are feared to be contaminated with bird flu. Savage Pet is in the process of recalling several boxes of cat food chicken from a specific lot as it may contain H5N1, or the bird flu, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The brand is recalling 66 of its 84-oz Large Chicken Boxes and 74 of its 21-oz Small Chicken Boxes bearing the lot code/expiration date «11152026», the FDA said in a press release.

Betsy Arakawa were found dead, along with their pet dog, at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico in February 2025, sparking intense speculation about their cause of deaths. Recently, authorities revealed Gene Hackman died of heart disease days after his wife died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). But what exactly is this rare illness?

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Recently, the emergence of avian influenza or bird flu in feline populations has raised concerns among veterinarians and cat owners. While bird flu primarily affects avian species, certain strains have crossed species barriers, leading to infections in mammals, including domestic cats.

Gene Hackman’s spouse, Betsy Arakawa, died from a hantavirus infection, officials in New Mexico have confirmed. Hantavirus, which is present globally, is transmitted through interactions with rodents or their excrement, including urine and feces. It is important to note that the virus is not contagious between humans. While there is no definitive treatment or cure available, seeking prompt medical care can significantly improve the odds of survival. The infection can escalate quickly and become life-threatening. Dr. Sonja Bartolome from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas explained, “It initially presents like the flu, with symptoms such as body aches and a general feeling of malaise.” She emphasized that early on, distinguishing hantavirus from the flu can be quite challenging. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus can lead to a severe and potentially fatal lung condition known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The CDC began monitoring the virus following a significant outbreak in 1993 in the Four Corners area, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah converge. Dr. Michelle Harkins, a pulmonologist at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, noted that a perceptive physician within the Indian Health Service first identified a troubling trend of deaths among previously healthy young patients presenting with cardiopulmonary arrest, which led to the CDC's investigation to find commonalities among these cases.

Zydus Lifesciences on Wednesday said it is introducing a vaccine for protection against new strain of influenza virus. The company is introducing country's first flu protection quadrivalent influenza virus vaccine as per WHO recommended composition, the Ahmedabad-based drug major said in a statement.