A hantavirus outbreak has emerged from a luxury cruise ship, prompting health authorities in the U.S. and South Africa to monitor passengers for potential infections. Passengers tested positive for the Andes virus, a type of hantavirus primarily found in South America. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), while hantavirus can spread between people, this is rare and usually requires close contact. WHO's top epidemic expert, Maria Van Kerkhove, clarified that this is not the next COVID-19, stating that most individuals will never be exposed to hantavirus. The virus can lead to severe respiratory distress, and early medical attention is crucial for survival, as there is no specific treatment or cure. The incubation period for hantavirus can vary from one to six weeks. Following the outbreak, a former passenger was hospitalized in Zurich, Switzerland, while two others in South Africa tested positive, one of whom died. Health officials are tracing contacts of the infected individuals, with 42 out of 62 contacts testing negative for the virus.