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How worried should we be about hantavirus?

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The outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship carrying passengers from across the world is a situation that authorities say they are taking incredibly seriously.

Three passengers have died either on board or after travelling on the ship, which set sail from Argentina a month ago.

Three others were evacuated from the ship for treatment.

A huge operation is in place to trace people potentially exposed to the virus who have already taken flights home to numerous countries, including the UK, South Africa, the Netherlands, the US and Switzerland.

Health experts stress the risk to the general public is low. So how worried should we be?

The contact-tracing work has been "quite a mammoth effort", Prof Robin May, chief scientific officer at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) told BBC Breakfast, and one "we will continue to do… for some time".

In an update on Thursday, operator Oceanwide Expeditions said 30 passengers, including seven Britons, had disembarked when the ship docked at St Helena on 24 April.

The company said it had contacted all of those who had already disembarked.

The UKHSA said two Britons who had left the ship at St Helena had contacted health officials when they heard about the cases after flying home from Johannesburg and are now voluntarily self-isolating in the UK. They do not have symptoms.

In the US, health officials in Georgia and Arizona have confirmed to the BBC that they are monitoring three passengers who had returned to the US after disembarking. None currently have symptoms.

Human-to-human spread is possible with the specific Andes strain that has been detected, say experts.

But the World Health Organization (WHO) says the risk of infections globally remains low because this is not a disease like Covid or flu that spreads easily.

In its latest update, it says eight cases of hantavirus – three confirmed and five suspected – have been identified in people who were on the ship.

It is still not clear how the outbreak started.

Hantavirus typically spreads from rodents, with people infected by breathing in air contaminated with virus particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.

The cruise had been visiting remote wildlife areas, so a passenger could have come into contact with the virus then, or before boarding the ship.

Health experts believe that some of the infections on board MV Hondius may have passed between people that were in very close contact.

Even luxury cruise ships have relatively cramped or restricted living conditions, with people sharing cabins and dining areas – places where infections could spread.

The Andes strain of the virus has been confirmed in two of the ship's passengers, according to South Africa's health minister, and experts have observed the strain spreading between human patients in previous outbreaks, through very close contact.

Unlike diseases such as measles, which are highly contagious and spread easily, the Andes strain of hantavirus is not that infectious.

People can catch it from someone that they spend prolonged time with in close physical proximity.

The three deaths include a Dutch woman who left the MV Hondius when it stopped at the island of St Helena on 24 April. She had been sharing a cabin with her husband who previously died on board on 11 April, but is not a confirmed case of hantavirus.

Hantavirus is not spread in the outside world through everyday social contact like walking in public spaces, shops, workplaces, or schools, the UKHSA says.

Symptoms usually appear between two to four weeks after being exposed to the virus, but can occur more than a month later.

People ill with the Andes strain can have symptoms similar to flu – a fever, fatigue, muscle aches. They may also get shortness of breath, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting or diarrhoea.

There is no specific treatment, but early medical support in hospital can improve survival. Treatment is for the symptoms displayed.

Any British passengers returning from the cruise ship will be asked to self-isolate in the UK for 45 days, the UKHSA says.

For the broader public, not directly involved in this cruise ship, "the risk here is really negligible", Prof May adds.

Some 19 British nationals were listed as passengers on the MV Hondius, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde, with four British crew members.

The UKHSA said officials were working to co-ordinate the arrival of British nationals to the UK from MV Hondius.

Dr Meera Chand, deputy director for epidemic and emerging infections at UKHSA, said: "It's important to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains very low.

"We are contact tracing anyone who may have been in contact with the ship or the hantavirus cases to limit the risk of onward transmission."

The MV Hondius is now sailing towards Spain's Canary Islands after being anchored for three days near Cape Verde, an archipelago nation off the West African coast.

The plan is for the remaining passengers and crew to fly to their home countries.

Oceanwide Expeditions said on Thursday that none of the people still on board were displaying symptoms and local health authorities have visited the vessel and assessed the situation.

Passengers have been isolating on board and the ship has been deep cleaned by professionals ahead of the planned evacuation.

📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98r199e195o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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Trump warns Taiwan against declaring independence, hours after summit with China's Xi

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Donald Trump has cautioned Taiwan against formally declaring independence from China.

"I'm not looking to have somebody go independent," the US president told Fox News on Friday, at the end of his two-day summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Trump earlier said he had "made no commitment either way" about the self-governing island – which China claims as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.

The US has long supported Taiwan, including being bound by law to provide it with a means of self-defence, but has frequently had to square this alliance with maintaining a diplomatic relationship with China.

Washington's established position is that it does not support Taiwanese independence, with continued ties with Beijing being contingent on its acceptance that there is only one Chinese government.

Many Taiwanese consider themselves to be part of a separate nation – though most are in favour of maintaining the status quo in which Taiwan neither declares independence from China nor unites with it.

In his interview with Fox News, Trump reiterated that US policy on the matter had not changed.

"You know, we're supposed to travel 9,500 miles (15,289km) to fight a war. I'm not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down."

On the flight back to Washington, the US president had told reporters that he and Xi had spoken "a lot" about the island, but said he had declined to discuss whether the US would defend it.

Xi "feels very strongly" about the island and "doesn't want to see a movement for independence", Trump said.

"The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations," Xi warned during the talks, according to Chinese state media, adding: "If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict."

Asked if he foresaw a conflict with China over Taiwan, Trump had said: "No, I don't think so. I think we'll be fine. [Xi] doesn't want to see a war."

China has ramped up military drills around the island in recent years, raising tensions in the region and testing the balance that Washington has struck.

Late last year, the Trump administration announced an $11bn ($8bn) package of weapons to be sold to Taiwan, including advanced rocket launchers and a variety of missiles, which Beijing condemned.

Trump said he would soon decide whether that sale could go ahead, adding that he and Xi had discussed it "in great detail" and that he would speak to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te first.

"I may do it. I may not do it," he told Fox News.

"We're not looking to have wars, and if you kept it the way it is, I think China's going to be OK with that. But we're not looking to have somebody say, 'Let's go independent because the United States is backing us'."

The US has previously provoked anger from China for seeming to soften its stance on independence.

Its State Department dropped a statement from its website reiterating Washington's opposition to Taiwanese independence in February 2025 – something Beijing said "sends a wrong… signal to separatist forces".

US officials in Taiwan said at the time: "We have long stated that we oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side."

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said his team had been monitoring the US-China summit, and had maintained good communication with the US and other countries "to ensure the stable deepening of Taiwan-US relations and safeguard Taiwan's interests".

He said Taiwan had always been a "guardian of peace and stability" in the region and accused China of escalating risk with its "aggressive military actions and authoritarian oppression".

📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8p61v7l68o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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Burnham cleared to run for selection in pivotal by-election

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Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been cleared to seek selection as Labour's candidate in a by-election which could pave the way for him to return to Westminster.

The mayor has been given the go-ahead by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, which blocked his previous attempt to stand in a by-election in January.

If he is selected as the candidate in Makerfield, in the north-west of England, and goes on to win, Burnham is widely expected to try to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister.

The prime minister is continuing to resist calls to stand down and set a timetable for his departure and is expected to fight any challenge from Burnham or other likely contenders.

The Makerfield constituency became vacant on Thursday, when Labour MP Josh Simons said he would resign to make way for Burnham.

The BBC understands the by-election is likely to take place on 18 June.

On Friday, the prime minister was in a police control centre in London but did not take questions from the media.

Steve Reed, the housing secretary and an ally of the PM, said: "It's been a very difficult week but we need to take a breath now, take this weekend to reflect on what's going on, and come back next week and focus on the country we were elected to serve."

Events have calmed down after a frenetic week of political activity which has seen the prime minister defy calls to step down, following his party's disastrous election results.

Nearly 90 Labour MPs have urged Sir Keir to go and five ministers have resigned but a leadership race cannot be triggered until someone, with the backing of 81 Labour MPs, formally challenges the prime minister.

Under Labour Party rules, Burnham is unable to join a leadership contest unless he becomes an MP.

Announcing his decision to apply to stand in Makerfield, Burnham said he wanted to "bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people".

He added that he would "not take a single vote for granted".

Applications to enter the process to become Labour's candidate close on Monday 18 May and a selection meeting will take place on 21 May.

Traditionally, Makerfield has been a safe Labour seat, but more recently has been leaning towards Reform UK and, if selected, it could prove a tricky race for Burnham to win.

Wes Streeting has been seen as a potential leadership candidate and speculation that he would launch a challenge mounted on Thursday when he resigned as health secretary.

Streeting called for a broad debate about what comes next but did not say he would run for leader.

His allies say he has the support of the 81 Labour MPs needed to enter a race.

In a post on social media, Streeting said he welcomed Burnham returning to Parliament, saying: "We need our best players on the pitch."

Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has told the Guardian newspaper that she did not rule out running but would not "trigger" a leadership race.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "Andy Burnham wants to rock up and just be prime minister despite being out of Parliament for a decade."

Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice said his party would be "throwing everything possible" to ensure a "seismic" win in the by-election.

The Green Party said: "We've learnt from our campaigning and wins in Gorton and Denton and the recent local elections, and we've shown we can beat Reform."

📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgp2e0rrj4o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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Man arrested after referee Beaton and family put under police surveillance

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John Beaton was the referee at Fir Park on Wednesday evening

The Scottish FA says referee John Beaton and his family "spent last night at home under police surveillance following a leak of personal details online".

The association says that it is calling for "tolerance and perspective to prevent any further, unthinkable escalation".

And Police Scotland have confirmed a man, 19, has been arrested "in connection with a data protection offence".

Beaton has faced criticism following the award of a late penalty, which was converted, in Celtic's 3-2 win at Motherwell on Wednesday.

The incident at Fir Park, which involved VAR, was the latest in a series of controversial refereeing decisions as the Scottish Premiership title race reaches its conclusion.

Celtic's win kept them within a point of leaders Hearts. Those two sides meet at Celtic Park in Saturday's final top-six fixtures.

"The Scottish FA condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to compromise the safety of match officials," said the SFA, which organises refereeing in the SPFL.

"Such vigilantism, motivated by decisions perceived to be right or wrong on a field of play, is a scourge on our national game and we are grateful to Police Scotland for their swift intervention.

"As we approach what should be an exciting finale to the season, we ask those who have personalised and hyperbolised their opinions, those who have sought the easy way out by attributing defeats to perceived refereeing errors, and those who have approved incendiary statements and posts to reflect on their contribution to creating an environment of intimidation, fear and alarm."

Police Scotland said in their statement: "Officers investigating a complaint of personal information being shared online relating to a Scottish football official, have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with a data protection offence. Enquiries are continuing."

The impossible job? The pressure of refereeing Scotland's title decider

The SFA cited those they see as responsible for an escalation in tensions.

"We are also clear, sadly, that this is the inevitable consequence of the heightening criticism, intolerance and scapegoating demonstrated this season by media pundits, supporters, official supporters' groups, clubs, players, managers and former match officials," it said.

"We do not make that point lightly as the national association. Yet it is an inconvenient truth. Those who have sought to apportion blame and conspiracy towards match officials to deflect from defeats or perceived injustices throughout the season have contributed to an environment that puts the safety of our staff and match officials in jeopardy.

"This is the consequence of a hysterical media narrative, fuelled by irresponsible knee-jerk post-match media interviews, commentary and official social media posts.

"The cumulative effect impacts on our ability to provide enough referees to service our game at all levels. When it compromises the safety and wellbeing of our most senior match officials, enough is enough."

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The SFA insisted their officials "are not infallible".

And they added: "Mistakes will be made on the field, and subjective calls made in front of the VAR monitor, just as managers will pick the wrong team, goalkeepers concede soft goals and strikers miss from five yards out. Yet the reaction to these inevitabilities could not be more contrasting.

"What happened yesterday is not an isolated incident. There are many examples of match officials being placed in harmful situations but with individuals fearful of speaking out lest it exacerbates the situation or causes further alarm to friends, family and colleagues.

"We will not allow this to become the norm. We will not allow a situation where match officials require special provision to protect their children at school to be considered an occupational hazard. We will not allow a situation where staying at home with the front door locked and avoiding the hazards of public interaction becomes a coping strategy.

"The Scottish FA will be seeking to strengthen its rules to better protect those integral to the game and urge those who will doubtless join us in condemning incidents like this to support those proposals, not contribute to their watering-down on the basis of self-preservation.

Celtic score controversial late penalty to set up epic final day

📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c87qye8yjg2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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