France 24 • May 13, 2026 09:41

Hantavirus: How was ‘patient zero’ infected?

Political Leaning Analysis

Left Center Right

Score: 0.00 • Center / Neutral

A Dutch ornithologist may be "patient zero" in the new hantavirus outbreak – a theory currently favored by the World Health Organisation. The 70 year old was the first person to die aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. But how and where did he come into contact with the virus?

Story Timeline

Mon 15:46 - France 24

Inside the science of hantavirus transmission: 'Virus not known for human-to-human transmission'

Wed 11:26 - El Pais

This is the Andes virus, the only hantavirus strain that is transmitted from person to person

Thu 03:30 - El Pais

How has hantavirus been transmitted? Boat Outbreak Visual Explanation

Thu 13:31 - El Mundo (ES)

How did hantavirus get on the ship? Experts are betting on the hypothesis that the virus "came" on board

Thu 13:35 - El Pais

A 2018 outbreak on a birthday with 11 deaths shows that the Andean hantavirus is not only transmitted by close contact

Thu 20:59 - El Mundo (ES)

The eight confirmed cases of hantavirus show that very close contact is not necessary for contagion

Fri 03:30 - El Pais

Gustavo Palacios, hantavirus expert from the Andes: “This pathogen is more virulent and there can be chain infections”

Fri 09:27 - ANSA Mondo

KLM flight attendant tested negative for hantavirus

Fri 14:00 - El Mundo (ES)

Isolation with negative pressure and tests every 24 hours: this is the protocol for action in the event of suspected cases of hantavirus, such as the one detected in Alicante

Fri 20:51 - El Mundo (ES)

The suspicious case in Alicante threatens the hantavirus siege

Sat 10:55 - El Mundo (ES)

The Catalan woman who had contact with the Dutch woman who died from hantavirus is admitted asymptomatic to the Hospital Clínic

Sat 13:49 - El Pais

Breaking news on the hantavirus outbreak, live | Italy monitors four people for possible contact with a person who died from hantavirus

Sat 15:52 - Die Zeit Newsfeed

Hantavirus: What makes the virus dangerous – and how much concern is justified

Sat 20:47 - El Mundo (ES)

The epic of the Repettos, the first confined by the hantavirus in Tristan da Acuña and Santa Elena, the islands of eternal confinement

Mon 10:31 - DW All

Endemic, epidemic, pandemic: What's the difference?

Mon 10:31 - DW Top

Endemic, epidemic, pandemic: What's the difference?

Mon 13:38 - La Libre (BE)

Why hantavirus is “not a new Covid”, according to experts

Mon 13:44 - DW All

Hantavirus: How it differs from COVID

Mon 13:44 - DW Top

Hantavirus: How it differs from COVID

Mon 22:01 - The Hill

Hantavirus outbreak: Who is most at risk of catching the deadly virus?

Tue 04:04 - Aftenposten (NO)

Viruses know no boundaries

Tue 04:35 - La Libre (BE)

Symptoms, transmission, quarantine, risk of epidemic…: ten things to know about hantavirus

Tue 04:40 - Le Figaro

A year ago, the hantavirus already caused the death of Gene Hackman's wife

Tue 06:03 - SVT Nyheter (SE)

Government: Hantavirus will not cause a new pandemic

Tue 09:35 - BBC Headlines

No sign of larger hantavirus outbreak, says UN health agency

Tue 09:53 - France 24

How France works to beat the hantavirus chain of transmission

Tue 10:31 - Le Figaro

Where does the word “hantavirus” come from?

Tue 10:43 - DW All

'Work not over,' says WHO after hantavirus evacuation

Tue 10:43 - DW Top

'Work not over,' says WHO after hantavirus evacuation

Tue 11:59 - Euronews

'Smear campaign': Ushuaia rejects claims it was ground zero for Hantavirus outbreak

Tue 12:49 - The Hill

Hantavirus and COVID: How are they different?

Tue 13:52 - Al Jazeera English