Dr Punam Krishan urged people to see their GP if their tiredness meets these criteria
Fatigue is a common issue in modern life, and many people are quick to brush it off as something minor that can be sorted with a good night’s sleep, regular exercise, or a healthier diet. While this rings true for the majority, Dr Punam Krishan has highlighted certain warning signs that suggest your exhaustion could have a more serious underlying cause.
Advertisement
Appearing on BBC’s Morning Live on May 5, the GP drew a clear distinction between ‘normal tiredness’ and the kind of fatigue that warrants a visit to the doctor. She noted that with “ordinary tiredness”, you can usually identify the root cause yourself.
Dr Punam went on to describe the more worrying type of exhaustion that people should not ignore: “The one I’m talking about is when you’re feeling absolutely fatigued and wiped out no matter how much you rest and you don’t know why you’re feeling tired all the time.
“It might be something as simple as a vitamin deficiency, low iron levels. It might be your thyroids, it might be blood sugar issues. But it can also be a sign of something with sinister. That’s why going in, getting your bloods done, getting a history, getting us to diagnose it could be really really helpful.”
The NHS recommends seeing a GP if you feel tired and:
Advertisement
It has been going on for a few weeks without a clear reason
It affects your daily life
It is paired with other symptoms like weight loss or mood changes
Someone has said you make gasping, snorting or choking noises when you sleep
Dr Punam highlighted these points after discussing the most recent healthy life expectancy figures, which showed that Britons are now becoming unwell roughly two years sooner than they were 10 years ago.
This indicates many people are enduring longer stretches of their lives in ill health than before. Dr Punam voiced particular worry for those who postpone getting medical attention when symptoms initially appear.
While the GP urged people not to be alarmed, she warned: “Sometimes I have people that go; ‘Oh, it started six months ago’. You know what, six months ago if had we seen you, it would be a different outcome.”
She pointed out several “essential red flags” that might indicate something is wrong in the body, including lumps, unexplained weight loss, bleeding and coughs.
Dr Punam made a plea particularly to women and carers, who often fail to put their own health and wellbeing first even when feeling poorly. She said: “The sooner we act, the sooner we recognise early symptoms and take action, the better it is for us.”
Here’s what the stars have in store for your day (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The Moon in Capricorn, linked to Jupiter and the radiant Sun, encourages you to live life on your own terms. Keep it real today.
Cancer,Leo and Virgo, you may feel implored to think critically and make a change. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s authentic.
Whether you feel like living loud and proud or favour a more private approach today, don’t succumb to external pressure. Be unapologetically yourself.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Thursday May 7, 2026.
Advertisement
Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.
To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.
Aries
March 21 to April 20
The Moon continues in the practical Capricorn, but it could be that you encounter someone who is much more adhered to how things have usually been, just at a time when Mars in Aries, your ruler, is pushing you to lead your life very much on your own terms. And that could create a tension point between what you really want to do and what they expect of you.
One of the things that the free-spirited Uranus in your sign has encouraged you to do over recent years is to really appreciate what makes you unique. If you find yourself suddenly unsure today of which path to take, it’s important not to overthink it and just trust that what feels right will work out for you. And today, that could relate to a key financial decision.
You’re going to become more discriminating about who you’re friends with over the next couple of years, Gemini. Indeed, today could illuminate a situation in which you become much more conscious of someone who tends to be controlling, just when you are in the mood to break free of such people. Yet there needn’t be a big scene, just quiet withdrawal.
You may have been a lot more assertive recently, be it in your worldly dealings and professionally, due to the bold Mars working through a dominant zone. However, even if it is important to be businesslike, being brusque in a personal relationship today may create tension. The big picture here is your desire to get things done, but diplomacy is also key.
You could find yourself at a little bit of a crossroads. If you really enjoy your current job or life role, the chances are you can complete all your tasks efficiently and in an upbeat manner. But if you are finding things are running on the dull side, and you’re feeling restless, it may be much harder to concentrate, and your mind can wander to other possibilities.
Your ability to scrutinize situations with great astuteness is one of your key gifts. And today, as Saturn, the planet of structure, forges an excellent and constructive angle to Mercury, your ruler, your concentration levels can be really strong. But not only can you decipher what’s important you can also bring a slice of wit to things, too, the perfect mix, Virgo!
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
The Moon and Jupiter go face to face today, and it’s one of those oppositions that can have an upside, and you may find yourself being generous to someone within your family, or being encouraged by someone you’re close to, around your hopes. But as much as your worldly prospects are boosted, you’re gently reminded to stay in touch with your personal needs.
The Moon in a convivial part of your situation is linking well with the Sun in your relationship sector. Therefore, conversations could flow beautifully today – as long as you don’t rush things or try too hard. The reason I say this is that the Moon’s brief square with the pugnacious Mars could make you a little bit impatient to power through all you want to achieve.
Your guide planet Jupiter continues in a very positive location for your long-term finances, shared resources, or entrepreneurial ideas right through to the end of June. But today, its link to the Moon could see you make a spontaneous decision to treat yourself to something really rather nice, and why not? A slice of indulgence, however modest, can lift you.
Your astrological archetype suggests you’re someone who runs on the cautious side, but the Moon in Capricorn today, linked to the bubbly Jupiter and the radiant Sun, gives you a fabulous opportunity to showcase just how charismatic you can be. Interested in someone? This combination can give you more confidence when speaking with them.
If you find yourself wanting to spin out today, even if it’s just for an hour or so, and just gather your thoughts, then why not? As much as you can be very social and one of the friendliest of people, you do have another part of your nature that appreciates space and time to reflect. This is a passing phase, and soon enough, you’ll feel more outgoing.
A conversation earlier this week may have shed light on an old issue you’re still digesting. With the North Node in Pisces continuing in your zodiac sign right through to the end of July, trusting your instincts on situations is really very important, but particularly if you’re tuning into your needs and not getting too caught up in others’ expectations of you.
Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.
As a loyal Metro reader, we want to make sure you never miss our stories when searching for your news. Whether it is the latest politics news explained, live football coverage or a showbiz scoop.
Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
Camden Council has long-been a Labour stronghold, but this could all be about to change as voters prepare to head to the polls on May 7.
Labour has maintained control of the borough for all but four years in the last five decades, securing 47 of the 55 ward seats in the 2022 local elections.
Five major parties are standing in almost all electoral wards: the Conservatives, the Greens, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK, while minor parties including the National Housing Party and the Camden People’s Alliance are also contesting some seats.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has compiled the key manifesto pledges from each of the main parties, outlining what they promise to deliver should they win or retain power.
Advertisement
Camden Lock in north London
AFP via Getty Images
Camden People’s Alliance
Use public investment to set up a council-led building programme
Oppose ‘intermediate’ rents and homes for sale on public land
Restore planned cyclical repairs programmes to social housing
Create tenant-run community spaces and halls
Expand protections for marginalised groups and migrants
Divest funds from companies linked to human rights abuses and violations of international law
Invest in violence prevention and community safety especially violence against women and girls
Reverse school cuts and reduce class sizes
Deliver universal free school meals
Provide free nutritious food for elderly residents
Invest in mental health services for young people
Place the council’s housing maintenance in special measures to ensure real improvement
Reverse trend of driving families out of the borough by building 1-2 bedroom apartments
Oppose the extension of late night licensing hours
Demand funding for greater police presence on Camden’s streets
Back the use of CCTV to catch phone snatchers
Fight to keep schools, health centres and libraries open
Environment and Transport
Introduce a weekly free car parking period in new high streets to support shopkeepers and commercial premises
Scrap the fee for garden waste removal
Employ more in-house building surveyors and managers to make housing repairs more efficient and cost-effective
Prioritise building ‘genuinely’ affordable homes that go beyond mandated quality standards
Protect historic markets and traders from cost increases
Strengthen partnerships with LGBTQI+ organisations
Divest from companies profiting from genocide and human rights abuses
Target root causes of crime by taking a cross-departmental and multi-agency approach to crime prevention
Take a public health approach to serious violence including knife and gun crime
Cut the high numbers of suspensions and permanent exclusions in schools
Adopt early intervention public health approach to loneliness to support Camden’s youth
Work with NHS partners to collate, publish and act on ethnicity‐specific health data, treating disparities as acute public health issues
Foster a wellbeing economy to prioritise health, happiness and security of people and the planet
Environment and transport
Set up a climate change task group within the council
Prioritise renovation and retrofitting buildings over demolition
Support community initiatives to increase biodiversity and wildlife corridors
Plan better, safer public transport including a joined-up cycling network across Camden.
Expanding landlord licensing to enforce private tenants’ rights and improve housing quality
Invest £670 million in housing repairs and major works, including for fire safety works and lift renewals
Build 1,400 new homes including 700 affordable homes
Support pubs and community buildings through Asset of Community Value designation
Deliver “warm spaces” for residents in colder months
Provide grant programmes to voluntary and community organisations
Double the size of the council’s community safety team
Invest in Safety Bus service for residents
Expand CCTV monitoring
Invest £11 million to open two new children’s homes
Provide an extra after-school club in every Camden school
Use data for free school meal auto-enrolment
Invest up to £15 million extra in social care
Pay care workers London Living Wage
Introduce a new dementia strategy
Environment and transport
Identify locations for new parks and plant more trees
Introduce new bus lanes and increase the number of zebra crossings in the borough
Install 800 new electric vehicle charging points
Set up a taskforce to make the most of existing council homes, to review best practice and take action on void turn-arounds and under-occupation
Change policies to limit conversion of family homes into small flats
Sell the Crowndale Centre and use the funds on temporary accommodation to cut homelessness
Promote the borough as a welcoming place for refugees, immigrants and other visitors and reaffirm Camden’s status as a Borough of Sanctuary
Work with partners to deliver local festivals, performances, markets and cultural events, from farmers’ markets to craft and community events
Boost the size of community safety teams and those supporting substance misusers
Pressure the Met Police to stop sending neighbourhood police officers on other assignments
Invest in preventing violence against women and girls through partnerships with schools, sports clubs, arts and community groups
Work to ensure parents of children with special educational needs are kept informed about how government reforms will affect them
Help young people into skilled work in local town centres through SEND internships and apprenticeships and meaningful jobs
Increase support for blind and partially sighted people by expanding the council’s Sensory Team
Deliver accessibility improvements, including step-free access, dropped kerbs, tactile paving, better crossings, seating and clear signage
Environment and transport
Pressure TfL to tackle dirt, noise and neglect on Finchley Road
Launch a Rewilding Fund to support community-led greening projects
Require all new developments to include solar panels and battery storage
Reform UK is standing candidates in every electoral ward in Camden, but has not released a manifesto. The LDRS contacted the party’s local branch to ask about its pledges for the borough, but at the time of publication had not received a response.
The party’s key national policies include:
Immediately leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
Scrapping indefinite leave to remain for immigrants and rescind existing awards
Chelsea have been urged to look to Liverpool (Picture: Getty)
Didi Hamann says Chelsea are ‘crying out’ for some experience and should attempt to sign a departing Liverpool legend on a free transfer.
Chelsea have been in dismal form over the past two months, suffering six successive Premier League defeats and crashing out of the Champions League.
The Blues’ struggles cost Liam Rosenior his job last month, with the ex-Strasbourg boss sacked after just 106 days in charge.
Chelsea’s chaotic transfer strategy has been highlighted as one of the reasons for the club’s poor form, with the board prioritising the signing of young and promising players since their 2022 takeover.
Advertisement
Hamann believes it is time for Chelsea’s owners to bring some much-needed experience to the Stamford Bridge squad and has recommended a shock deal for Andy Robertson.
Scotland international Robertson, 32, is searching for his next club after announcing he would be leaving Anfield when his contract expires at the end of the season.
In his nine-year spell on Merseyside, Robertson has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League and three domestic cup competitions, establishing himself as one of Liverpool’s greatest defenders.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly (Picture: Getty)
‘I think Chelsea need experience,’ Hamann told BetKing. ‘If you’ve got good young players, you need experienced players to bring them on.
‘Sometimes when things go badly, as they have now, the run of form is dreadful, you need experienced players who can calm young players down, where a young player looks up and somebody says to him, “Listen, lad, don’t worry about it, we’ll be fine.”
Advertisement
‘I don’t think they’ve got that. So what you see with them now is that when they go behind, they fall apart. The most blatant example was probably against Brighton [when Chelsea lost 3-0].
Andy Robertson is set to leave Liverpool (Picture: Getty)
‘A player like Andy Robertson, they should take him in a heartbeat. I think he’s exactly the type of player Chelsea needs or is crying out for.
‘With one or two more experienced players, they’ve got to give themselves a chance. I don’t think the way the team is put together, they give themselves a chance.
‘Andy Robertson, I’d take him at Chelsea in a heartbeat if he was interested.’
Not many games get two separate remakes (Nintendo)
Not content with a secret shop in London, Nintendo has unveiled the much rumoured new Star Fox game in a Direct they didn’t advertise until a few minutes beforehand.
Acting strangely is, and always has been, completely normal for Nintendo but they really have been on something this year. We’re into May now and they still haven’t had a first party Nintendo Direct, so we know almost nothing about what games they have planned for the rest of the year.
Unusually there have been believable rumours, including a Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake and at least one new Star Fox game. There’s been some disagreement, amongst insiders, as to whether there’s one or two new games, but most agreed that an old school entry in the series would be released in the first half of this year.
It’s now been revealed that the game in question is a remake of Star Fox 64 (aka Lylat Wars) and not an entirely new game. That’s mildly surprising, but what’s even more curious is that Nintendo decided to announce it at 11pm BST on Wednesday night, with only 10 minutes warning.
Advertisement
It’s pointless asking why they did it that way, as they clearly don’t care about when and how Europe find out the new game (11pm is midnight on the Continent). But if nothing else it proves that not even Nintendo is immune to leaks and there is now absolutely no way of guessing when or how they might announce other new games.
Even ignoring all that, it is a bit odd that it’s Star Fox 64 which is being remade and not the original game, but then Star Fox 64 has already been remade once before, for the 3DS, so it was probably a bit easier to do that, compared to the massive upgrade the original SNES game (known as Starwing in Europe) would’ve required.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
Advertisement
Star Fox 64 is also arguably the best game in the series, with both linear and all-range levels, where you have full freedom of movement. It also had a four-player competitive mode which, unusually for modern remakes, will be included in, and slightly expanded by, the new version.
According to Nintendo, the level design is the same as the N64 version but, as you can see, the graphics have seen a major upgrade. The characters have been redesigned too, but in a slightly disarming pseudo-realistic style that doesn’t look like either Fox McCloud’s appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie or the cuddly models from the box art of the original SNES game.
Advertisement
The graphics are really good, but Fox has such a wide mouth he looks like he’s just swallowed a plate. Although the new feature that replaces your face with one of the characters when using GameChat is very impressive, as the camera maps your facial movements onto the CGI avatar.
Other new features include optional mouse controls for the fist person view, although you can also use the wireless N64 controller if you’d rather keep things old school. There’s also a co-op mode where one person can be the pilot and one the gunner, along with three separate difficulty modes, to ensure everyone can play to some degree.
There’ll also be a new Challenge mode with Achievement-like goals and a number of new cut scenes and lore details, with Nintendo showing off a new prologue featuring Fox’s dad.
Confusingly, the remake is called simply Star Fox, which seems to rule out them ever giving the original game the same treatment, and it’ll be released for Nintendo Switch 2 on June 25.
Advertisement
That’s around the same time that Nintendo usually put on a not-E3 style Direct, but given everything else that’s happened (or rather not happened) this year it’s impossible to know if they’ll still stick with that tradition.
The Landmaster and Blue-Marine are back too (Nintendo)
“People in London are really struggling and they need to know that they have councillors who are out there batting for them every single day, protecting local services, making sure we’re investing in the community, that we have council homes, homes that people can actually afford to live in in London.”
Russia answered ceasefire offer with ‘new strikes and attacks’, says Zelensky
Ukraine accused Russia of violating a ceasefire initiated by Kyiv overnight, with officials reporting one person killed and three wounded in regions in the north and east of the country.
“Russia violated the ceasefire initiated by Ukraine at midnight between May 5th and 6th,” Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on X, reporting that Russian attacks continued through the night, including morning strikes on the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.
“This shows that Russia rejects peace and its fake calls for a ceasefire on May 9th have nothing to do with diplomacy,” he wrote.
Ukraine’s air force said this morning’s attack involved at least 89 Russian drones as well as ballistic missiles, with hits confirmed in eight different locations. It warned that the attack continues as there are “several enemy UAVs in the airspace”.
Advertisement
The unilateral ceasefire proposed by Volodymyr Zelensky took effect at midnight. At least 27 people were killed in Russian strikes throughout eastern Ukraine in the hours leading up to the start of the ceasefire at midnight (Tuesday 10pm BST).
Putin has not committed to observing the ceasefire, but has proposed his own truce to cover 8 and 9 May, when Russia will commemorate the end of the Second World War with a military parade in Red Square.
Zelensky accuses Russia of spurning ceasefire proposed by Kyiv
Ukraine accused Russia of flouting a Kyiv-proposed ceasefire on Wednesday by carrying out dozens of battlefield assaults, air strikes and drone attacks.
Zelensky had floated the cessation, starting on 6 May, in response to Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s own proposed ceasefire from 8 to 9 May to coincide with its Second World War victory commemorations.
Advertisement
In a statement, Zelensky said Russia – which did not confirm its adherence to Ukraine’s proposal – had committed 1,820 violations by late morning on Wednesday.
“Russia’s choice is an obvious spurning of a ceasefire and of saving lives,” he said. Speaking later in his nightly video address, Zelensky said Russia “has responded to the proposal only with new strikes and new attacks” and Ukraine would determine “our entirely justified responses”.
He said Ukraine was ready to work for peace but that “if the one person in Moscow who cannot live without war is interested only in a parade and nothing else, that is another matter”.
“Russia has fought to the point where even their main parade now depends on us,” he said.
Advertisement
Arpan Rai7 May 2026 04:37
Briefing: What we know on the 1,533rd day of Ukraine war
Ukraine accused Russia of flouting a Kyiv-proposed ceasefire on Wednesday by carrying out dozens of battlefield assaults, air strikes and drone attacks.
Russia has said it faces an increased threat of Ukrainian attacks and will hold a slimmed-down version of its annual Victory Day parade in Moscow this week without military hardware on display.
Russia is warning diplomatic missions to evacuate staff promptly from Kyiv in the event of a mass strike by Moscow in response to any attempt by Ukraine to disrupt Victory Day commemorations.
During the 2022 local election in Southwark, 52 Labour councillors were elected, while the Lib Dems won 11 seats – making them the largest and only elected opposition group on the council. Since the last local election in 2022, four councillors have defected to the Greens and three former Labour councillors now sit as independents.
Simon Calder: Everything you need to know about the cruise ship hantavirus outbreak
Two people who returned to the UK from the cruise ship that was hit by a hantavirus outbreak have been told to self-isolate, the UK Health Security Agency said.
The organisation added that “the risk to general public remains very low” after they returned from the MV Hondius.
It is now believed that a Dutch couple who visited a landfill during a bird-watching tour in Argentina may be the source of the outbreak.
Two Argentine officials said the government’s leading hypothesis was that the couple could have been exposed to rodents on the trip in Ushuaia.
Advertisement
Eight suspected cases of hantavirus have now been linked to the boat, the World Health Organisation said, with five of the cases confirmed.
On Wednesday, three patients were medically evacuated from the boat to receive treatment in the Netherlands.
Spain’s health minister said that a British doctor who was evacuated from the boat is no longer in a critical condition.
Oceanwide, the cruise ship operator, said the planned destination for the ship was still the Canary Islands, despite its leader, Fernando Clavijo, blocking the vessel from docking in Tenerife.
Advertisement
MV Hondius heading to Canary Islands after three people suspected of hantavirus infections evacuated
The cruise ship MV Hondius is now heading to the Canary Islands from Cape Verde after three people suspected of having hantavirus infections were evacuated from the ship on Wednesday.
The three passengers are from Britain, the Netherlands and Germany. Earlier reports said the British person was a doctor, but that now appears to be incorrect.
Two other British passengers had already left the ship earlier and are currently self-isolating at home after possible exposure.
Advertisement
The ship is still heading to the Canary Islands with 145 people on board, all reportedly symptom-free according to the operator, Oceanwide Expeditions.
Spanish authorities say there is “no risk” to local residents, but the Canary Islands’ president says he is concerned and was not properly consulted.
Maroosha Muzaffar7 May 2026 04:25
Advertisement
Passenger stuck on ship at centre of hantavirus outbreak says atmosphere ‘relatively good’
Passenger stuck on ship at centre of hantavirus outbreak says atmosphere ‘relatively good’
Harriette Boucher7 May 2026 04:00
What is hantavirus? Symptoms you need to know after deadly cruise ship outbreak
Hantaviruses, which have been present for centuries, have a documented history of outbreaks across Asia and Europe.
In the Eastern Hemisphere, these viruses have been associated with severe conditions such as haemorrhagic fever and kidney failure.
Advertisement
A distinct group of hantaviruses emerged in the early 1990s in the southwestern United States, leading to the acute respiratory disease now known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Hantavirus is mainly spread by contact with rodents or their urine, saliva or droppings, particularly when the material is disturbed and becomes airborne, posing a risk of inhalation.
People are typically exposed to hantavirus around their homes, cabins or sheds, especially when cleaning out enclosed spaces with little ventilation or going into areas where there are mouse droppings.
The WHO says that while rare, hantaviruses may spread between people.
Advertisement
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began tracking the virus after a 1993 outbreak in the Four Corners region – the area where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.
It was a doctor with the Indian Health Service who first noticed a pattern of deaths among young patients, said Michelle Harkins, a pulmonologist with the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center who for years has been studying the disease and helping patients.
Most US cases are in Western states. New Mexico and Arizona are hotspots, Dr Harkins said, likely because the odds are greater for mouse-human encounters in rural areas.
Harriette Boucher7 May 2026 03:00
Advertisement
Pictured: The MV Hondius cruise ship, where 150 passengers are isolated in their cabins
The MV Hondius cruise ship is heading to Tenerife (Misper Apawu/AP) (AP)
(AFP/Getty)
Harriette Boucher7 May 2026 02:00
Airline says Dutch national who died from hantavirus was briefly on board aircraft
Dutch airline KLM has confirmed that a Dutch passenger who died from hantavirus was briefly on board one of its aircraft in Johannesburg.
The airline’s crew decided to not allow the passenger to travel on the flight due to their medical condition.
Advertisement
The flight concerned was KL592, which departed Johannesburg for Amsterdam on 25 April.
In a statement, the airline said: “Yesterday evening, the Dutch public health authority RIVM informed KLM that one of the Dutch nationals who died from hantavirus had briefly been on board a KLM aircraft in Johannesburg on April 25, 2026.
“Due to the passenger’s medical condition at the time, the crew decided not to allow the passenger to travel on the flight. The passenger sadly later passed away in Johannesburg. KLM extends its condolences to the next of kin and wishes them much strength during this difficult time.”
Harriette Bouche7 May 2026 01:00
Advertisement
US travel blogger comes to defence of hantavirus-struck cruise ship and says vessel is clean with strong biosecurity
Travel blogger Jake Rosmarin has been documenting his time aboard the illness-stricken ship, telling The Independent in a statement that aside from the two confirmed cases, the other passengers on board are “doing well” and remain “in good spirits”.
Mr Rosmarin noted that the MV Hondius is an expedition vessel, not an average cruise ship, and is held to a higher standard of cleanliness due to the types of trips it takes
“These ships operate with strict protocols and a strong emphasis on cleanliness, especially given the remote and environmentally sensitive regions they visit, which require high levels of biosecurity,” he said.
Advertisement
“The vessel is maintained to a very high standard, and suggestions that it is unclear are not accurate,” he added.
Harriette Boucher7 May 2026 00:00
Why the Andes virus is a concerning member of the hantavirus family
The word hantavirus refers to a broad family of viruses, with different versions in different countries.
Advertisement
Almost none of them have been found to spread from person to person — with the possible exception of the Andes virus, which has been confirmed in the current outbreak.
Still, transmission between people does not happen easily, and would require “close and prolonged” contact, according to the World Health Organisation.
“We haven’t had huge person-to-person spreads of hantavirus infection ever before, and there’s no reason to suspect a huge outbreak from this case at this point,” said Steven Bradfute, an associate professor and associate director of the Center for Global Health at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, which specialises in hantavirus research.
South African tests first confirmed the Andes virus when health authorities said they identified the strain of hantavirus in two passengers who were on the ship.
Advertisement
WHO said the Andes virus is found in South America, primarily in Argentina and Chile.
Harriette Boucher6 May 2026 23:40
Up to eight weeks of isolation needed for hantavirus exposure
The UKHSA has said up to eight weeks of isolation could be needed after exposure to the hantavirus.
Advertisement
A spokesperson said this was the “most cautious scenario” and the public health body would be monitoring exposed passengers “very closely” over the coming days and weeks.
“Most cases of hantavirus, we think, are transmitted within the first few weeks, but up to eight is the figure we are working with,” the spokesperson said in a video shared by Sky News.
“We are working on the most cautious scenario, which is the potential eight week isolation. Over the coming days and weeks, we will be monitoring these people very closely and we may be able to adjust that as time goes on.
“We are going to see how the data derives in the coming days. As you would expect, we are going to treat everything with the utmost caution.”
Advertisement
Harriette Boucher6 May 2026 23:30
Passenger who was on MV Hondius was ‘shocked’ to hear of virus outbreak
A passenger on board the MV Hondius has said it was “shocking” to learn of the outbreak on the vessel.
Ruhi Cenet was on the ship for 24 of the 36 days of the cruise and left after the first person had died.
Advertisement
He told Sky News: “We were on board with these people for 24 days straight. We had relationships.
“I knew these people, I’m very sad that they’re going through this human crisis, I just wish them to get well.”
He said they were told on 12 April that a passenger had passed away due to “natural causes”, which he said was a “relaxing explanation”, but turned out to not be true.
With the World Health Organisation’s involvement, he said he was noe “hopeful” for the passengers on board.
Advertisement
Harriette Boucher6 May 2026 23:10
Two of three evacuated patients in hospital, while third experiencing delays
Two medicalised aircraft, carrying two of the three individuals transferred from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship earlier today has landed in the Netherlands and the passengers have been taken to the hospital.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the cruise ship operator, said a second aircraft carrying the third individual was experiencing a delay, but the individual on board remained in a stable condition.
Advertisement
The company confirmed that the vessel had departed Cape Verde and is headed for the Canary Islands.
“This is expected to take 3-4 days,” a statement said.
“Three additional medical professionals have embarked m/v Hondius to provide optimal medical care during the crossing.”
A new chapter in the long history of Wales starts today. Our nation goes to the polls for an election that looks set to bring to an end an era of Labour dominance that has endured for more than a century.
Today will stand as a milestone in the social and cultural journey our society has been on for many years now as the dominant industries of the 20th Century and their social and political conventions have faded from our lives.
What is written in the next chapter of our nation’s story will start with the choice that the 2.3 million who are registered to vote in Wales make today.
Advertisement
We know from the many voters reporters have spoken to throughout this campaign that the issues in people’s minds vary from disillusionment at the state of our public services here in Wales to anger at the behaviour of political leaders who have nothing to do with devolved politics.
Yet the choice before our nation today will not have a bearing on the war in Iran or the numbers of migrants crossing the English channel in small boats. It is a choice about who governs Wales. It is a choice about who we in Wales want as our leaders and figureheads.
We know that many feel politics is failing them and that living standards are getting worse. We know many have no faith in our institutions and leaders. We know many will vote out of anger and alienation rather than loyalty and belief.
It is a sense of frustration born from a sense of endless economic crisis that has engulfed us from the crash of 2008 through the Brexit panic, the pandemic, the Ukraine war and now the Iran conflict.
Advertisement
The 96 Senedd Members who will be elected to represent us in Cardiff Bay have little chance of solving any of those underlying global challenges.
Just as no-one ever expected Mark Drakeford to lead our nation through the pandemic, they will also have to work out how to respond to the challenges we cannot yet imagine.
Today, we all have a chance to choose which party (or parties) takes on those responsibilities. What’s important is that we play our role and make a decision on which people and parties we think will handle whatever the future throws at them best.
Advertisement
Our responsibility is to set aside our frustration and disillusionment and choose from the people who have put themselves forward to be our leaders.
Our decision will shape the future of Wales.
See interviews with the leaders of Wales’ political parties
Housebuilder Bellway is seeking approval to build 115 homes alongside a new public sports pitch on land off Victoria Road West in Hebburn, South Tyneside, once home to the Hebburn campus of South Tyneside College before its closure in 2011.
The site, formerly used as college playing fields, is earmarked for development in the council’s emerging Local Plan.
Stuart Morgan, land director for Bellway North East, said: “This development would help to meet demand for new private and affordable homes in South Tyneside while opening up a new sports facility for the local community to use.
Advertisement
“The homes would be energy efficient, featuring solar panels to provide free low-carbon electricity to residents as well as electric vehicle charging points.
“There would also be landscaped areas, new wildlife habitats and trees planted within the development.
“Bellway has a strong track record for building high-quality homes across the North East.
“This site in Hebburn provides an opportunity to create a sustainable new neighbourhood which would provide the housing the area needs while supporting employment for people in the area.”
Advertisement
The scheme includes a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom properties, with four homes designated as affordable rental units and 10 offered at discounted market value.
Bellway has already developed a separate residential scheme on part of the former college grounds.
The land benefits from nearby amenities, including schools, shops, and leisure facilities, as well as transport links via the Metro at Pelaw.
The developer has applied to South Tyneside Council for full planning consent for the 13-acre site.
Advertisement
The application follows a period of public consultation, during which Bellway distributed information leaflets to local residents and held a public meeting to discuss the proposals.
The new homes would feature energy-efficient designs, incorporating solar panels and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Plans also include enhancements to green space, with new habitats and tree planting.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login