The outbreak of hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius has quickly become a global news story, sending an anxious public into flashbacks of the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. While public health officials and news outlets have responded with varying degrees of concern, one thing is clear: The recent memory of Covid-19 still looms large in people’s minds. But hantavirus has some distinct differences — it doesn’t spread as rapidly as Covid, it doesn’t mutate as effectively, and…we’ve actually seen a nearly identical strain of it before.
In this Reporter Extra, Vox senior correspondent Dylan Scott examines how a case study of a previous outbreak of hantavirus in Argentina can explain how the virus spreads and why it might be a guide for how to respond to the current situation.
Related links:
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/488471/hantavirus-pandemic-covid-cruise-ship-cdc-trump
https://www.vox.com/podcasts/488321/hantavirus-cruise-ship-passengers-nebraska-quarantine