WHO: Hantavirus may have spread between humans
Global News Podcast
BBC
4.3 • 8.2K Ratings
🗓️ 5 May 2026
⏱️ 26 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The World Health Organization says there may have been human-to-human transmission of a rare respiratory virus usually spread by rodents onboard a cruise ship off Africa's west coast. Three passengers have died and another is seriously ill. The ship was denied permission to dock in Cape Verde after cases of hantavirus were confirmed. The WHO says the risk to the global population is "low".
Also: the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says the US-Iran ceasefire is ''not over'' despite both sides attacking each other in the Strait of Hormuz. Residents in southern Lebanon say they fear a prolonged conflict with Israel, as the Israeli army instructs more civilians to leave their homes. There is lingering anger in Serbia over a lack of accountability for a railway station disaster that killed 16 people in 2024. A new book explores why so many of the world's languages could be extinct by the end of this century. And Dolly Parton has cancelled her Las Vegas residency because of ongoing health issues.
The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts. |
| 0:05.6 | This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:10.3 | I'm Jeanette Jalil and at 15 hours GMT on Tuesday the 5th of May, these are our main stories. |
| 0:16.3 | The World Health Organisation says the hanta virus may have spread between people on a cruise ship |
| 0:21.6 | where three passengers have died and others are confined to their cabins. |
| 0:26.4 | The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegsef, insists the ceasefire with Iran is not over, |
| 0:32.0 | despite the recent clashes between the two sides in the Strait of Hormuz. |
| 0:36.5 | Israel issues new evacuation orders for two towns in southern Lebanon |
| 0:40.5 | after 17 people were killed on Monday. |
| 0:45.6 | Also in this podcast... |
| 0:47.1 | I can't be easy, carrying around banjos, guitars and such. |
| 0:51.1 | Not to mention all those heavy rhinestone outfits, the big hair, my big |
| 0:55.9 | personality. The country legend, Dolly Parton, cancels her upcoming Vegas residency over health |
| 1:04.2 | concerns. The global health body, the WHO says the suspected hanta virus outbreak on a cruise ship |
| 1:14.1 | may have been transmitted from human to human. Usually the disease is spread by rodents. |
| 1:21.6 | Three passengers have died and a number of others have fallen ill. Two of the passengers are due to be |
| 1:27.4 | evacuated. The WHO has |
| 1:29.7 | stressed that this is not a virus that spreads like flu or COVID and that the risk to the general |
| 1:34.9 | public is low. But Cape Verde has refused to allow the ship to dock. And Spain, having initially |
| 1:41.0 | said it could sail to the Canary Islands, now says no decision will be |
| 1:44.4 | made on which port will receive the ship until epidemiological data on board has been analyzed. |
| 1:51.0 | About 150 people are trapped on the ship, confined to their cabins. |
... |
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