Por Issy Ronald, CNN

Es posible que se haya producido cierta transmisión de persona a persona a bordo del crucero afectado por un brote de hantavirus que ha dejado tres muertos y varios enfermos, informó este martes la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS).

“Sabemos que algunos de los casos mantuvieron un contacto muy estrecho entre sí y, ciertamente, no se puede descartar la transmisión de persona a persona; por lo tanto, como medida de precaución, esto es lo que estamos asumiendo”, declaró a periodistas la Dra. Maria Van Kerkhove, directora de Preparación y Prevención de Epidemias y Pandemias de la OMS.

Casi 150 personas, incluidos 17 estadounidenses, permanecen varadas en el MV Hondius, que se encuentra actualmente frente a la costa de África occidental.

El barco, operado por la compañía turística Oceanwide Expeditions, zarpó el mes pasado desde Ushuaia (Argentina) en un viaje a través del océano Atlántico, haciendo escala en algunas de las islas más remotas del mundo. Sin embargo, durante la travesía, varios pasajeros enfermaron con una afección respiratoria de rápida evolución, según informó la compañía.

Hasta el momento se han identificado siete casos de hantavirus, una enfermedad poco común causada habitualmente por el contacto con la orina, las heces o la saliva de roedores infectados. Dos de estos casos están confirmados y cinco se consideran sospechosos, indicó la OMS el lunes.

Tres personas —una pareja neerlandesa y un ciudadano alemán— han fallecido, mientras que un ciudadano británico permanece en cuidados intensivos en Sudáfrica, aunque Van Kerkhove señaló que su estado de salud está mejorando.

Otras dos personas que presentan síntomas de hantavirus permanecen a bordo del barco, si bien su evacuación médica se está llevando a cabo en este momento, añadió Van Kerkhove.

“El riesgo para la población general es bajo”, subrayó Van Kerkhove. “Este no es un virus que se propague como la gripe o como el covid, es bastante diferente”.

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The post Brote de hantavirus en crucero: se sospecha que hubo transmisión de persona a persona, dice la OMS appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

CNN

By Alexandra Banner, CNN

It’s Cinco de Mayo — the annual reminder that America loves a good theme. The holiday marks Mexico’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla, but it’s a much bigger deal in the US, where it’s been rebranded as a marketing tool for restaurants and bars.

Here’s what else you need to know to get up to speed and on with your day.

1⃣ CNN debate

The top seven contenders in a highly competitive race to become California’s next governor will face off in a CNN debate today at 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET). What sets this contest apart is California’s unusual “jungle primary” system, which could leave November’s ballot without a Democrat. Here’s how:

• All candidates run on one ballot in June, with the top two advancing — regardless of party.
• A crowded Democratic field risks splitting the vote, leaving no clear frontrunner.
• That opens the door for two Republicans to finish in the top two, potentially shutting Democrats out of the general election in November.

WATCH: How does California’s ‘jungle primary’ work?

2⃣ Trump’s approval rating

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to one of its lowest levels, even below where it stood after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. His 35% average in the CNN Poll of Polls is comparable to ratings seen during George W. Bush’s presidency. Read more.

3⃣ Hormuz hostilities

The US and Iran traded shots on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh doubts about an already fragile ceasefire. President Trump also warned Iranian forces they would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if they targeted US ships in the strategic waterway. Read more.

4⃣ Cruise ship lockdown

Almost 150 people, including 17 Americans, are stranded on a cruise ship off the west coast of Africa after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the vessel killed at least three people and left several others ill. The ship is now under lockdown, anchored off Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, after being refused entry to the port. Read more.

5⃣ Met Gala

Hundreds of celebrities gathered at the Met Gala on Monday, bringing a range of looks inspired by this year’s theme: “Fashion is Art.” Outfits ran from subtle to theatrical as the event brought in a record $42 million for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, up from $31 million a year ago. Read more.

Sign up for CNN’s Big Style newsletter
CNN senior style reporter and advanced outfit anthropologist Rachel Tashjian excavates the stylish amusements and contextualizes the world of fashion – all in your inbox. Sign up for Big Style here.

Breakfast browse

Party of one:

By Alexandra Banner, CNN

It’s Cinco de Mayo — the annual reminder that America loves a good theme. The holiday marks Mexico’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla, but it’s a much bigger deal in the US, where it’s been rebranded as a marketing tool for restaurants and bars.

Here’s what else you need to know to get up to speed and on with your day.

1⃣ CNN debate

The top seven contenders in a highly competitive race to become California’s next governor will face off in a CNN debate today at 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET). What sets this contest apart is California’s unusual “jungle primary” system, which could leave November’s ballot without a Democrat. Here’s how:

• All candidates run on one ballot in June, with the top two advancing — regardless of party.
• A crowded Democratic field risks splitting the vote, leaving no clear frontrunner.
• That opens the door for two Republicans to finish in the top two, potentially shutting Democrats out of the general election in November.

WATCH: How does California’s ‘jungle primary’ work?

2⃣ Trump’s approval rating

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to one of its lowest levels, even below where it stood after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. His 35% average in the CNN Poll of Polls is comparable to ratings seen during George W. Bush’s presidency. Read more.

3⃣ Hormuz hostilities

The US and Iran traded shots on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh doubts about an already fragile ceasefire. President Trump also warned Iranian forces they would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if they targeted US ships in the strategic waterway. Read more.

4⃣ Cruise ship lockdown

Almost 150 people, including 17 Americans, are stranded on a cruise ship off the west coast of Africa after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the vessel killed at least three people and left several others ill. The ship is now under lockdown, anchored off Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, after being refused entry to the port. Read more.

5⃣ Met Gala

Hundreds of celebrities gathered at the Met Gala on Monday, bringing a range of looks inspired by this year’s theme: “Fashion is Art.” Outfits ran from subtle to theatrical as the event brought in a record $42 million for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, up from $31 million a year ago. Read more.

Sign up for CNN’s Big Style newsletter
CNN senior style reporter and advanced outfit anthropologist Rachel Tashjian excavates the stylish amusements and contextualizes the world of fashion – all in your inbox. Sign up for Big Style here.

Breakfast browse

Party of one: Solo dining is more popular than ever

Dining alone is becoming more common globally, but some restaurants continue to refuse solo guests.

A cosmic mystery

Astronomers have found an atmo

Por Eric Bradner, CNN

Las primarias de mayo pondrán a prueba la solidez del control de Donald Trump sobre el Partido Republicano y el papel que el presidente pretende desempeñar a medida que los votantes republicanos eligen a sus candidatos, sabiendo que él nunca más aparecerá en la papeleta electoral.

En Indiana, este martes, Trump interviene en siete elecciones estatales al Senado que normalmente no presentan grandes cambios, buscando purgar a la vieja guardia republicana que rechazó sus demandas de redistribuir los distritos electorales del estado para la Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos.

Se trata de la primera de varias primarias en las que Trump podría desempeñar un papel dominante este mes: también se siguen de cerca la contienda por un escaño en la Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos en Kentucky, donde Trump busca desbancar a uno de sus principales rivales conservadores, el representante Thomas Massie.

Y la segunda vuelta de las elecciones al Senado en Texas, donde Trump se ha mantenido al margen de la contienda a pesar de las esperanzas de los líderes republicanos de que respaldara al senador John Cornyn en lugar del fiscal general Ken Paxton.

Ohio también celebrará sus primarias el martes. Esto es lo que hay que tener en cuenta en Indiana y Ohio:

La supermayoría republicana del Senado de Indiana avergonzó al presidente en diciembre, cuando ignoró sus meses de cabildeo y rechazó un nuevo mapa de distritos electorales para el Congreso que probablemente habría permitido al partido ganar los dos escaños de la Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos que estaban en manos de los demócratas en el estado en las elecciones de mitad de mandato de noviembre.

Ahora, Trump busca vengarse, y ha respaldado a los candidatos que desafían en las primarias a siete de los ocho senadores estatales republicanos que votaron en contra de la redistribución de distritos y que se presentan a la reelección este año.

El resultado de estas contiendas, generalmente de bajo perfil, tendrá enormes repercusiones para el Partido Republicano, que pronto se verá obligado a afrontar el panorama político posterior a Trump.

Estas elecciones pondrán a prueba si los votantes están dispuestos a ignorar los deseos de Trump y dar a sus representantes electos margen de maniobra para tomar otro rumbo.

El presidente pro tempore del Senado de Indiana, Rodric Bray, quien se ha ganado la ira de Trump por la redistribución de distritos electorales pero que no figura en la boleta electoral del martes, le dijo a Dana Bash de CNN que este tipo de contiendas primarias generalmente se libran en torno a “cuestiones locales”.

“No se trata de eso”, señaló Bray. “Esto viene impulsado desde fuera del estado de Indiana, principalmente desde Washington, y el dinero también proviene de fuera de Indiana”.

Estas son las primarias republicanas para el Senado estatal de Indiana que hay que seguir de cerca:

• Distrito 1: el senador Dan Dernulc se enfrenta a Trevor De Vries, respaldado por Trump.
• Distrito 11: la senadora Linda Rogers se enfrenta a Brian Schmutzler, respaldado por Trump.
• Distrito 19: el senador Travis Holdman se enfrenta al concejal de la ciudad

CNN, X.COM, HANS_KLUGE, CNN VIA WEBEX CISCO, CNNE, x.com/hans_kluge

By Issy Ronald, CNN

(CNN) — Some human-to-human transmission may have occurred on board the cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak that has left three people dead and several others ill, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.

“We do know that some of the cases had very close contact with each other and certainly human-to-human transmission can’t be ruled out so as a precaution this is what we are assuming,” Dr. Maria Van Kerhove, WHO’s Director for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, told reporters.

Almost 150 people, including 17 Americans, remain stranded on the MV Hondius that is currently off the coast of West Africa.

The ship, operated by tour company Oceanwide Expeditions, left Ushuaia, Argentina last month on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, stopping off at some of the world’s most remote islands. But along the way, several passengers fell sick with a rapidly progressing respiratory illness, the company said.

Seven cases of hantavirus, a rare disease typically caused by contact with infected rodents’ urine, faeces or saliva, have been identified so far. Two of those are confirmed and five suspected, WHO said Monday.

Three people – a Dutch couple and German national – have died while one British national remains in intensive care in South Africa, though Van Kerkhove said his condition is improving.

Two other people suffering from hantavirus symptoms remain on board the ship, though their medical evacuation is currently underway, Van Kerkhove said.

“The risk to the general public is low,” Van Kerkhove emphasized. “This is not a virus that spreads like flu or like COVID. It’s quite different.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

The post Human-to-human transmission suspected on board hantavirus cruise ship, WHO says appeared first on News Channel 3-12.