Editorial Voice
Malik Thompson
Malik adds context when public updates become scattered or confusing.
Articles using this voice
4 90-Second Reads currently use this editorial voice.
NBC News
90-Second Read: Covid-19 cruise passengers recall painful memories amid Hantavirus outbreak
May 9, 7:00 AM EDT
Three passengers from the MV Hondius have died, two of whom had confirmed cases of the Andes strain of the Hantavirus and one with a probable case. The Andes strain of the Hantavirus can be spread person-to-person and is typically found in parts of Argentina, including where the cruise ship departed on April 1. According to cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions' website, the Hondius has 80 cabins that can accommodate up to 170 passengers. State Department said Friday that it is arranging a flight for the 17 American passengers to be brought to a quarantine facility in Nebraska. And that Tuesday, they said, 'Stay in your room and don't come out.'" As more passengers tested positive, the ship implemented strict safety protocols and everyone went on lockdown.
Medical Xpress
90-Second Read: Hantavirus scare revives COVID-era conspiracy theories
May 9, 6:20 AM EDT
An outbreak of the deadly Hantavirus on a Dutch-flagged cruise ship is reviving conspiracy theories about vaccines, alleged depopulation campaigns and miracle cures that flourished during the COVID pandemic. The almost-immediate resurrection of COVID-19-era conspiracy theories is a reminder that misinformation doesn't simply disappear once the crisis that yielded them is over," said Yotam Ophir, head of the University at Buffalo's Media Effects, Misinformation and Extremism lab. Some further claimed the Hantavirus was a side effect of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines, misrepresenting a document that showed only that it was one of many "adverse events of special interest" subjected to monitoring, not something caused by the shot. The multilingual misinformation, which dominated online discourse and disrupted public health responses to the coronavirus, resurged even as the World Health Organization insisted Friday.
Forbes
90-Second Read: Hantavirus—How It’s Different From COVID-19 And The U.S. Response
May 8, 8:17 PM EDT
The current strain responsible for the outbreak, known as the Andes strain, is rare and is the only type of Hantavirus known to spread person-to-person. The majority of Hantavirus cases occur through direct contact with infected rodents and do not spread person-to-person. Hantavirus, on the other hand, spreads only through prolonged, sustained contact and cannot spread as effectively and efficiently as COVID-19, making it much less transmissible. More than two dozen passengers already disembarked on the island of Saint Helena on April 24, and then traveled to a dozen different countries, including several passengers to the United States. Within the U.S., several state departments are helping monitor the patients to track symptoms and whether the passengers will need further medical care.
NBC News
90-Second Read: 7 states prepare to receive Americans possibly exposed to Hantavirus
May 8, 7:47 PM EDT
The agency has classified the Hantavirus outbreak as a "level 3," which is the lowest level of concern. State health officials said it's up to the local health department to decide whether to test the Arizona resident for Hantavirus, but noted that any test results would likely be negative since the person is asymptomatic. The strain of Hantavirus involved in the cruise ship outbreak, known as the Andes strain, is the only version known to be transmissible between humans. As early as Sunday, global health authorities will help transport passengers still on board the ship — all of whom are currently asymptomatic — to their respective home countries. The passengers will have their vital signs monitored daily and have access to a team of health care workers, including infectious disease.