This Is Not a Pandemic
Published at 15:29 on 13 May 2026
It is scary that hantavirus is transmitting from human to human, and not via intermediate rodent hosts as is typical. But it is not a new development. The strain detected occurs in South America, where it transmits from human to human from time to time. Such it has been for a long time, and it hasn’t turned into a global (or even a regional) pandemic. The cruise began in Argentina, so it is obvious how its passengers originally became exposed. It spread like it did because a cruise ship concentrates a lot of people into a small space.
When the experts claim this is not going to turn into a pandemic, they are correct.