— President Barack Obama to this late-night host who asked if he should run for the nation's highest office. But, maybe no tan suits?
Public Health
Trapped at Sea
What's going on: In news that’s giving us flashbacks to the harrowing Diamond Princess cruise of the early COVID-19 days, about 150 passengers are still stuck on the MV Hondius amid a hantavirus outbreak. Onboard, three people have died, eight others are sick, and three have been evacuated on medical flights. Those still on the ship (which had embarked on a wildlife-focused nature cruise) are living like it’s 2020 — quarantined, scared, and laying the hand sanitizer on thick. Investigators told The Associated Press that they believe a couple originally contracted it while bird-watching in Argentina before boarding. The cruise is set to dock in a few days in Spain’s Canary Islands (though officials there sure aren’t happy about it).
Don’t panic: This is not COVID 2.0. Hantavirus, a respiratory illness, is typically carried by rodents. You’ve either heard of it because you live in the Southwest, or because last year pianist Betsy Arakawa, Gene Hackman’s wife, died from it. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that this incident involves the rare Andes strain of the virus, one of the only versions known to spread from person to person. Think: spouses or people caring for sick relatives. In other words, not the kind of transmission that is expected to spark widespread outbreaks. The WHO says the risk to the general public remains low. Although this renews worries about US preparedness for the “next” pandemic (especially post-WHO withdrawal and CDC cuts), officials say hantavirus won’t be it.
