Hantavirus outbreak and what’s in a name
Unexpected Elements
BBC
4.4 • 565 Ratings
🗓️ 15 May 2026
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
An outbreak of hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship has us looking at the unexpected science around the disease. First up, why is this outbreak such an unusual occurrence?
Then, what's in a name? We look at how diseases are named, and why the system has sometimes been problematic.
Also, the mysterious case of medicine disappearing from the quarantine tanks at an aquarium. We speak to the expert who solved the puzzle.
All that, plus more fun and strange science, on this week's Unexpected Elements.
Presenters: Alex Lathbridge, with Camilla Mota and Kai Kupferschmidt Producers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Robbie Wojciechowski and Scarlett Victoria
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts. |
| 0:07.3 | On BBC Sounds, there are podcasts to help you look after your body and your mind. |
| 0:12.7 | From increasing your immunity to feeling more confident. |
| 0:16.6 | Or tips on how to focus. |
| 0:18.5 | Sorry, what will you say? |
| 0:19.7 | If it matters to you, it matters to us. |
| 0:22.6 | Feel good inside of it. |
| 0:24.3 | With What's Up Docs. |
| 0:25.9 | And Complex with Kimberly Wilson. |
| 0:27.9 | Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:33.2 | So this week, I've been practicing to run a 10K. |
| 0:36.9 | It's not fun. Putting one foot in front of the other isn't particularly difficult, but eventually a certain level of boredom sets in. |
| 0:44.9 | I can't listen to music when I run, so I like to do maths in my head. Nothing complex, mind you. I'm not a genius. |
| 0:51.3 | Yesterday, it was the three times table. By the time that I'd reached |
| 0:54.9 | the halfway point, I'd just about counted to 261. By a kilometre 7, my mental calculator had reached |
| 1:01.5 | 876. Soon came 900, then 930, and eventually 957, but mental fatigue had sunk in. For the last 1,000 metres, I couldn't for the |
| 1:12.9 | life of me work out what three times 333 was. I was so distracted by this conundrum that I didn't |
| 1:19.4 | notice my laces had come loose, and I found myself tripping over right outside my front door. |
| 1:25.1 | Funnily enough, the answer to that question is 999. This can only mean one thing. |
| 1:30.5 | I'm Alex Fathbridge and from the number of fantastic people I have here today. |
| 1:55.2 | I've got two of them here to help with science. |
| 1:58.2 | In Sao Paulo, Brazil, it's Camilla Moira. |
... |
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