Should we fear a new pandemic? A deadly outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship crossing the Atlantic causes panic as cases are reported around the world.
Ship virus ‘spreads between humans’
Ship shape: Passengers on the MV Hondius are finally set to return home after Spain agreed to let the ship dock in the Canary Islands following a successful medical evacuation. Glossary
Hantavirus - A deadly virus passed from rats and mice to humans through infected faeces, urine, or saliva. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, fever, and vomiting.
Cape Verde - An island nation where the cruise ship MV Hondius was travelling to from Argentina when the outbreak began. The government there initially refused to let any passengers ashore due to the virus.
Faeces - Waste matter discharged from the bowels; solid bodily waste excreted through the anus.
Saliva - The watery liquid produced in your mouth that helps you swallow and start breaking down food, informally called spit.
Repatriated - To be sent back to one's own country. In this context, passengers from the cruise ship are to be returned home under "medical guarantees" to ensure public safety.
WHO - Short for the World Health Organisation.
Pandemics - When a disease spreads across an extremely large area, or the entire world. A pandemic is more severe than an epidemic.