Three passengers have died after a suspected outbreak of hantavirus ripped through an Atlantic Ocean cruise ship, the MV Hondius. Hantavirus infections, which are usually spread by infected rodents’ urine or faeces, can lead to severe respiratory illness and can sometimes be fatal. In an update on Tuesday (5 May), the World Health Organisation (WHO) said there ⁠may be some human-to-human transmission happening between close contacts ⁠on board ​the cruise ⁠ship, but maintained the risk to global health is low. Simon Calder explains the latest updates in the outbreak.