, Columnist
The Hantavirus Outbreak Is Cause for Caution, Not Panic
The unfortunate cruise ship, photographed off the coast of Cape Verde on May 5, 2026.
Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
A suspected outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship sailing the Atlantic Ocean has all the hallmarks of a nightmare scenario: A handful of people have fallen gravely ill, three have died, and nearly 150 people are stuck off the coast of Cape Verde while global health experts are scrambling to understand — and stop — the infections.
But while tragic, there’s no reason for panic. This likely isn’t the opening scene for a bigger, scarier movie.
