The Andes strain of hantavirus behind the outbreak on a cruise ship is susceptible to “super-spreader” events, according to research backed by the US military.

Three people have died on the Dutch vessel MV Hondius and three others are sick with suspected hantavirus infection.

More than 140 people are stuck in quarantine and cannot disembark the ship because the rodent-borne virus is thought to be caused by a strain which can spread between humans.

The US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases – historically known as the centre of the US biological weapons programme – now focuses on biosecurity and, in 2020, backed groundbreaking research that showed the Andes strain of hantavirus can spread rapidly between people.

The researchers, based at Fort Detrick, Maryland, also found that symptomatic individuals were capable of causing “super-spreader” events given the right social circumstances, such as those found on cruise ships.

“After a single introduction [of Andes hantavirus] from a rodent reservoir into the human population, transmission was driven by three symptomatic persons who attended crowded social events,” the researchers found in a 2018-2019 outbreak in Chubut Province, Argentina, which resulted in 34 confirmed infections and 11 deaths.

“Our findings traced the first person-to-person transmission event to a birthday party with approximately 100 guests,” said the researchers, whose work was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The “index patient” was found to have infected five others during “90 minutes” at the party. The second person infected was found to be the “likely source” for six further cases and, after his death, his wife infected an additional 10 people at his wake.

“It appears that inhalation of droplets or aerosolised virions may have been the routes of infection,” added the researchers.

Despite medical experts acknowledging that human-to-human spread of hantavirus is rare, these findings do not bode well for those on the cruise ship as it makes its way from Cape Verde to the Canary Islands, where it is to be evacuated.

Human-to-human transmission could explain why a British doctor fell ill after treating patients on the ship, and may account for the images of medical workers in full bio-protection gear on board the stricken vessel.

Martin Anstee, a British expedition guide, was evacuated from the MV Hondius

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A British man evacuated from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship has spoken out about his experiences on the stricken liner. Martin Anstee, who was removed from the MV Hondius, has revealed to Sky News he was “doing okay” but remains uncertain about the length of his hospital stay.

The 56 year old said: “I’m doing okay. I’m not feeling too bad. There are still lots of tests to be done.

“I have no idea how long I’ll be in the hospital for. I’m in isolation at the moment.”

Mr Anstee served as an expedition guide aboard the Dutch-flagged vessel. He was airlifted out this morning alongside two other individuals, reports the Mirror.

Two further people who travelled back to the UK independently from the cruise have also been instructed to self-isolate, according to the UK Health Security Agency, which stressed that “the risk to general public remains very low”.

The World Health Organisation has reported that confirmed hantavirus cases have now reached five. The findings, verified through laboratory testing, include two passengers airlifted today.

Previously, there were three confirmed cases and five suspected ones, with three fatalities recorded. The total case count of eight is believed to remain unchanged, with laboratory results confirming hantavirus presence in cases that were previously under suspicion.

Nevertheless, Spanish health minister Monica Garcia has stated that all passengers currently aboard the MV Hondius show no symptoms. The vessel will now proceed to the Canary Islands where travellers will undergo screening for infection indicators before being sent home if they’re found to be in good health.

In a statement published online, Spanish health officials confirmed that the ship is anticipated to dock within 72 to 96 hours.

Authorities explained that passengers will disembark in a “controlled” manner with “direct transfer from the port to the airport and subsequent return to their countries of origin, avoiding at all times transit through spaces open to the general population”.

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The Applejacks Orchard is a beautiful holiday cabin. One stayer said: ‘I specifically booked this because it looked very different and quirky and seeing it in the flesh did not disappoint’

Booking a holiday stay is a simple way to find unique escapes across the UK, from countryside cottages to quirky glamping retreats. Wales offers some beautiful properties which are easy to secure a stay in through booking sites like Sykes Cottages.

Tucked away on the outskirts of Holywell near the scenic River Dee, Applejacks Orchard offers a charming, studio-style, glamping cabin designed for couples seeking a peaceful North Wales getaway. Despite its glamping label, the cabin is beautifully finished, with a modern and beautiful presented interior.

Inside, guests are welcomed into a bright, open-plan space featuring a comfortable double bed, a compact but well-equipped kitchen, and a cosy sitting area complete with a corner sofa, TV, and electric fireplace. It also includes a sleek bathroom, with a freestanding bath which offers a touch of luxury to the glamping cabin.

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Outside, Applejacks Orchard continues to impress with an enclosed garden where visitors can enjoy a private hot tub, outdoor sauna, and even a cold plunge for a spa-like experience. There’s also a patio area with furniture, a log burner, and cooking facilities including a gas BBQ and pizza oven. Off-road parking and dog-friendly accommodation make it a convenient and flexible choice for stayers.

The location of Applejacks Orchard is only a short walk to a local shop and nearby pub. Nature lovers can explore nearby attractions such as Greenfield Valley Heritage Park and Pen Y Maes Woods, or venture further to the coast at Talacre.

Applejacks Orchard was recognised as a Silver winner in the 2024 Sykes Gem Awards for Best Glamping Property. It is a standout holiday property offering comfort, privacy, and a touch of indulgence in a peaceful North Wales setting.

One stayer in Applejacks Orchard said: “Wow what an amazing, beautiful and different accommodation Applejacks is. I specifically booked this for me, my wife and the dogs because it looked very different and quirky and seeing it in the flesh did not disappoint.”

Another said: “What an amazing quirky cottage, we loved every minute of our stay. The owners have decorated it beautifully it was so snug & comfy, they also left us some lovely treats which were so nice. It’s a perfect getaway from every day life & just switch off & not too far from amenities. Thank you for a wonderful stay”

A third visitor said: “What an absolutely beautiful place to stay, would definitely come back!”

A fourth said: “It feels like you’re staying somewhere magical, a perfect place to celebrate mam’s birthday. Looks sold me immediately as all other glamping pods were the same- brown, small and not as many facilities, even better that the area is fenced off for privacy and on site parking.” Love dreamy Welsh homes? Sign up to our newsletter here

Another glamping experience to consider is the Orient Express, which is a shepherds hut located near Brecon. It is a dog-friendly glamping hut available to book at holidaycottages.co.uk

Alternatively, the Orchard Cottage in the Isle of Anglesey is a luxury cottage alternative for four guests, available on Luxury Cottages.

Steven Gidwaney appeared in the drama as Simo and returned to the ITV show for a second short stint last month.

He had previously appeared throughout the latter half of 2025.

Simo was one of many people that Ray and Celia were using as illegal workers on their farm as part of the modern slavery plot.

He lived in the attic with the other workers, which included fellow resident, Bear Wolf.

Steven reappeared last month and played a major part in this week’s trial against Bear, Paddy and Dylan.

Originally agreeing to back up the trio, he went against his word and suggested that, as Bear had special privileges, he was in on the horror that Ray and Celia subjected the workers to.

Taking to social media, he revealed he had left the show and paid tribute to his co-stars, including Dominic Brunt who plays Paddy.

He wrote: “Well what can I say…AGAIN! To be asked to be part of this storyline and to play Simon ‘Simo’ Clarke was a HUGE honour. To be invited back was a MASSIVE privilege!

“Firstly, thank you to Jordan Hale Audere Talent Management for getting me this wonderful opportunity in the first place! MASSIVE thank you to Faye Styring, Ezra Tren Humphries and the Emmerdale storyline team for bringing Simo back!

“HUGE thank you to Simon Ferguson and Matt Hilton, the 2 fabulous directors I had the pleasure of working with. I worked with Matt on my first ever TV job so it was really nice to work with him again!

“BIG thanks to Joshua Richards, Dominic Brunt, Fred Kettle and Andrew Scarborough. I’m so happy I got the share the screen with all of you, a true pleasure!”

She’s only been in it a week and she’s already a scene stealing diva x #Emmerdale pic.twitter.com/P3oUUpsyfB

— TellyAddict (@TVAddict2K26) April 28, 2026

He then went on to tease that fans may not have seen the last of “Simo” as he hinted at a potential return in the future.

He added: “ That’s Simon ‘Simo’ Clarke over and out, for now, who knows, maybe we’ll see him again…”

Steven’s co-stars were quick to praise him for his performance as part of the hard-hitting storyline.

Michelle Hardwick, known for her role as hospital receptionist Lizzie Hopkirk in the ITV drama series The Royal, wrote: “So lovely to meet/work with you.”

Will you be sad to see him go? Let us know in the comments

Content creator Brock decided to try bakery Greggs for the first time after discovering it is a ‘British institution’ and was left impressed by one menu item in particular

An American who tried Greggs for the first time says one item is “better than the US” and even ranked it more highly than the sausage roll. Content creator Brock decided to visit the bakery chain after hearing it was a “UK institution”.

Once inside, he found there was quite the selection of pastries and baked goods, opting for a bacon and sausage bap, a sausage roll, a steak bake, a jam doughnut, and a mint mocha. He concluded that all of the treats “smell good” and noted how busy the store was.

He concluded he had tried “better” coffees than his limited-edition mocha but also admitted he had sampled “worse,” giving it a 6.5 out of 10. In a video on his Globetrotting Brock YouTube channel, he said: “It’s good enough where I’d get it again because it’s cheap enough.

“The price was £2.80 and I got it as a meal deal with the sausage and bacon breakfast roll.”

Brock went on to try the sausage and bacon roll with brown sauce, which cost £4.15 with the drink, immediately highlighting the thickness of the bread. He explained the sandwich “wasn’t bad” for the price but preferred a sandwich from an American bakery, scoring the roll a five out of 10.

The blogger described the steak bake crust as “extremely buttery and flakey,” likening the pasty to a “big sausage roll”. He concluded: “I really like it, even though the steak is a tiny bit chewy, the crust is just so flaky and the gravy inside is nice and warm, not too salty, pretty good overall.”

He gave the steak bake an eight out of 10. Tucking into the chain’s iconic sausage roll, Brock described the pastry as “a bit drier” than the steak bake but concluded it was “still really flaky”.

He said: “The sausage inside is a lot softer than any other sausage rolls I have tried anywhere, that’s including New Zealand and Australia. It’s really surprising to me, I didn’t think the pork would be this soft.

“It does have a pretty mild flavour, it’s just pork, it doesn’t taste like it’s had any seasoning in here. But it’s still not bad, like everything else here, especially for the price.”

Brock gave the sausage roll a seven out of 10. He added: “I like it, the flavour is a little mild but beside that, the price and the softness of the pork is really nice.”

Brock finished his meal with a jam doughnut. After biting into the treat, he said: “That’s some really good jam in there. It’s covered in sugar and it’s leaving a mess all over me but it’s not bad.

“It’s more like a bread consistency in there but it’s still really soft. And the jam is really sweet.

“I like the jam doughnut, it might be one of the better jam doughnuts I’ve ever had. This is a really good jam doughnut, better than in the US.”

He scored the doughnut an 8.5 out of 10. He concluded: “Honestly, Greggs actually surprised me. It’s better than I thought it was going to be and the price is really decent.”

While the whole series is already streaming on ITVX, each episode will now go out at 10:45 pm every night from tomorrow until it’s done.

In response to the news, viewers took to the social media platform X to vent their thoughts.

Not a lot of it was positive.

I had great hopes for this series, but sadly it didn’t deliver. Episode 1 was enough for me.

— Chris (@chrismclnn) May 6, 2026

One viewer said: “Like I feel bad for all involved but they took away cbb for this so I’m glad it failed”.

Another commented: “Just like Genius game…they expected people to be drawn in because of a big name.

“When are they going to stop throwing money at presenters and come up with something we’d all enjoy.”

Someone else replied to the post: “They cast some very unlikeable people so there’s no feel good factor.

“I agree they should have waited a couple of eps before booting people out and bringing in new people”.

One person did actually seem to be disapointed with the news, saying: “Our house really enjoyed it, it was nice seeing families competing and all different age ranges.

“It’s a shame, I think if they released it properly it could have been a hit.”

Before much of the reaction returned to being negative: “I think it suffered from when it decided to kick out ppl from the 1st episode.

“It should have been given time to breathe and for us to care about the ppl in the neighbourhood”.

Newsquest has reached out to ITV for comment.

What is The Neighbourhood?

Hosted by Graham Norton, The Neighbourhood sees families and households compete in a street-sized reality game, battling it out for the chance to take home a life-changing cash prize.

ITV said: “It marries high-stakes competition, epic challenges and relatable domestic drama, to offer a different flavour of reality.

“This is a game the households will live as well as play.

“They’ll be with each other 24/7, sleeping and eating in their houses, socialising between them – and then voting each other out.

“The challenges they face in public will change the dynamics behind closed doors.

“And to win, they’ll need to defeat their neighbours, while still staying popular on the street.

Will you be sad if The Neighbourhood is eventually cancelled? Let us know in the comments

The DWP said the measure aims to free up health professionals to carry out more face-to-face assessments and deliver more Work Capability Assessment (WCA) reassessments

The UK Government unveiled proposals to extend the duration of awards for individuals making fresh claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) this year, in a bid to help clear the backlog of Work Capability Assessments (WCA). The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stated the initiative seeks to enable health professionals to conduct more face-to-face assessments and complete additional WCA reassessments.

Currently, the interval between PIP award reviews can be as brief as nine months, and the majority of recipients do not experience any alteration to their award at review. This is set to be extended for most PIP claimants aged 25 and above to a minimum of three years for fresh claims, increasing to five years at their subsequent review should they continue to qualify.

These operational modifications are distinct from the Timms Review, which will examine the function of PIP, eligibility for the daily living and mobility components, assessment process and the criteria in supporting disabled people to achieve better health, higher living standards and greater independence.

The new measure was implemented in April alongside amendments to Universal Credit that reduce the disparity between what individuals receive for unemployment compared to long-term sickness. The changes will see the UK Government honour a pledge made in the Pathways to Work Green Paper to increase face-to-face assessments, following their reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contracts agreed by the previous government had required 80 per cent of assessments to be conducted remotely — by telephone, video call, or paper-based means.

The proportion of face-to-face assessments is set to rise significantly, with PIP assessments increasing from six per cent in 2024 (57,000) to 30 per cent of all assessments, and the WCA from 13 per cent in 2024 (74,000) to 30 per cent, reports the Daily Record.

The UK Government stated it is delivering these changes and “reforming the broken welfare system it inherited” by extending the intervals between assessments to verify whether a claimant’s condition still qualifies them for PIP, freeing up healthcare professionals to conduct more face-to-face assessments and carry out additional WCA reassessments.

It added: “Reassessments play an important role in taking account of how changes in health conditions and disabilities affect people over time.”

Collectively, the measures are anticipated to save the UK taxpayer £1.9 billion by the end of 2030/31, and are accompanied by employment support initiatives targeting sick or disabled individuals, including Connect to Work and the redeployment of 1,000 work coaches.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden recently said: “We’re committed to reforming the welfare system we inherited, which for too long has written off millions as too sick to work.

“That is why we are ramping up the number of assessments we do face-to-face and taking action to tackle the inherited backlog of people waiting for a Work Capability Assessment.

“These reforms will allow us to save £1.9 billion, creating a welfare state that supports those who need it while helping people into work and delivering fairness to the taxpayer.”

The applicants said there is an ‘identified need’ for affordable homes in the area

Affordable homes could be built on part of a former golf course. The homes could be built on the old practice ground of Girton Golf Club on land north of High Street and fronting Oakington Road in Girton.

Fifteen homes are proposed, including six two-bedroom houses, four one-bedroom houses, one three-bedroom house and four two-bedroom bungalows. A new green space is also proposed, as well as the creation of two new junctions to access the site via Oakington Road.

Out of the 15 homes, 13 will be affordable homes, while the other two will be offered as shared ownership. The proposals seek to “respond to an identified need for affordable housing”.

From a report on the need for more affordable housing in Girton, the application added that there was “significant demand and need for affordable housing in Girton to meet the needs for the community”.

It added: “The need is mainly for smaller homes of one and two bedrooms and this should be considered by any development that may be proposed.” As well as two new junctions, other access points are proposed as part of the plans.

New footpaths are proposed for pedestrians, as well as a road layout that “accommodates appropriate measures to reduce speed and create a safe environment” for cyclists. The roads will also be designed so vehicles can’t “travel at speed” throughout the site. From a highways report, no concerns were raised about the proposed road layout.

The applicants have submitted previous planning applications for the same site. Initially in June 2024, they proposed 18 affordable homes.

However at the pre-application stage, concerns were raised over the “form of the development and amenity considerations”. The proposals were then reduced to 15 homes.

Part of the former golf practice ground is on land that is prone to flooding. However, the homes are proposed on the east side of the area, which the applicant said is “not at risk from fluvial flooding”.

The application has been submitted by several companies, including Abbey Properties Cambridgeshire Ltd, Girton Golf Club, Burmor Construction Ltd, Flagship Housing Ltd and Flagship Developments Ltd.

Brenda Heist had dropped her children off at school in February of 2002 and then mysteriously disappeared; when she returned, there was a tragic reason as to why

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A devoted mum vanished after dropping her children off at school – 11 years latern and after she had legally been declared dead, she re-appeared with a sinister explanation as to what had happened to her.

Brenda Heist was found alive in 2013, over a decade after she was last seen dropping her kids off at school in February of 2002. In the midst of a bitter divorce at the time, speculation had swarmed around her husband Lee.

Brenda’s friends and family gradually came to terms with her disappearance and were able to start to move on with their lives – until her sudden reappearance.

According to All That’s Interesting, Lee and Brenda Heist had lived a simple life in the town of Lititz, Pennsylvania. In 2002, their two children were 12 and eight, while Brenda held down a job as a bookkeeper at a nearby car dealership.

But behind closed doors, not all was what it seemed as Brenda and Lee’s marriage was breaking down.

In the midst of a bitter divorce, Brenda grew worried she would not have enough money to get by, taking a few days off work to look for somewhere to live.

The last time she was seen alive was on February 8, 2002, when she dropped her kids off at school and headed to a park. There, three strangers approached her, asking her what was wrong.

She opened up to them, and she says they then suggested she come with them hitch-hiking to Florida; a move she ultimately agreed to, without telling her family.

Over the next 11 years, Brenda’s family would hear nothing from her, after her worried loved ones reported her missing that evening.

Her car was found four days after the initial report, with Lee being pinned as a potential murder suspect. Eventually, officers dropped the case against him as a result of insufficient evidence in Brenda’s disappearance and after he passed a lie detector test.

Meanwhile, the family were left in shock as they had to move on without Brenda in their lives, with Lee now having to raise the kids as a single dad with no job. In 2010, after waiting a required seven years, Lee filed paperwork to declare Brenda as being legally dead.

He then remarried, seeming to move past the horror of what happened. Then in 2013, he got a phone call confirming that Brenda was still alive. She revealed her story, saying she had been living a double life for years around Florida as Kelsie Lyanne Smith.

She had even met another man and lived with him for seven years in his camper van.

Brenda, or Kelsie as she was now known made sure she only took work where she didn’t have to show ID, such as cleaning jobs, and didn’t stay in any work place for long. She also made sure she was only ever paid in cash.

It was when the man she was living with decided to move to Florida Keys and Brenda didn’t want to go with him that she moved in with her friend, Sondra Forrester, who she had also been cleaning for.

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Sondra said: “She was such an awesome, nice housemate. She caused no trouble and my kids loved her.”

Brenda had told her friend that her husband had died and that she had never had children – both lies.

After some initial shock at the discovery, her family ultimately shunned her for her decision to walk out on them.

In the wake of her disappearance, her children said they had to endure incredible hardship, saying they lost everything as a result of their mum walking out on them.

“I can’t believe she would do that because she was a good mom,” daughter Morgan said in 2013. “She was great, but, I mean, I guess something happened. Something snapped in her. I’m not going to go down memory lane with her… I hope she respects the fact me and my brother aren’t ready to talk to her, and we both need to accept this and let time go on.”

Speaking to Dr Phil while in prison for offences including stealing a driver’s license in 2013, Brenda revealed all as to why she abandoned the family, admitting she was “ashamed” of what she had done. When asked about her motivations, she said: “I just thought it would be better if I wasn’t there.”

After spending several months in jail, Brenda was eventually released in November of 2013. She has not seen her family since she was released, instead moving home to Texas to be with her mother.

WARNING: GRAHPIC CONENT – Dean Corll lured dozens of teenage boys – with the help of two other teens – into his various properties in Texas before carrying out his heinous crimes

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A seemingly mild-mannered electrician and army veteran hid a monstrous double life as a serial killer that would later earn him a chilling nickname.

Between 1970 and 1973 Dean Corll murdered at least 29 teenage boys in Texas, US.

He worked at his family’s candy business, handing out sweets to local kids – later being dubbed the ‘Candy Man’ killer – and would often lure his victims with alcohol or the promise of a party.

Shockingly, the sinister killer managed to acquire the help of two troubled teens – David Owen Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley – to help him entice his chosen victims to one of his many properties.

Once there, Corll would torture and rape the youngsters for days before either strangling or shooting them.

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The disappearance of all the children went largely undetected for years, however, until August 8, 1973. One that day, Henley shot and killed Corll, who was aged 33, during an argument over the killing of two teens, who were friends of the accomplice.

He subsequently led the police to the shallow graves of a number of victims in boat sheds, along desolate beaches and in woods where Corll’s family had a lakeside log cabin.

The details of his boys’ final moments are stomach-churning and around a third of them remained unidentified until the 2000s even.

Authorities found some bodies with chewed genitals, plucked pubic hairs and glass rods inserted in urethras that had been smashed.

Elsewhere, objects had been inserted into rectums and one boy’s mouth was so wide open it was thought he may have screamed to death.

One victim’s severed genitals were also found beside the body inside a plastic bag.

The news of Corll’s depravity was so shocking that even the Vatican sent condolences and the Kremlin condemned the police’s “astounding inaction” at not recognising the killing spree, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Both Brooks and Henley were jailed for their parts in the deaths, each being sentenced to life in prison.

In 2020, Brooks died after contracting Covid and Henley remains the sole survivor of the mass murders. Last year, a documentary called ‘The Serial Killer’s Apprentice’ was released which shared new interviews with the now 69-year-old.

In it, the convicted murderer is questioned over the phone by Dr Katherine Ramsland, revealing his transformation from a manipulated teenager to a killer.

“I believe that I was originally taken over to Dean’s as a victim. What scares me is, did Dean recognise a fellow psychopath?” Henley admitted.

He went on to describe being groomed by Corll at 15-years-old and how the manipulation resulted in his participation in the killings. Henley has been eligible for parole since 1980 but has been denied each time, with the most recent on November 7, 2025.

A childhood friend of one of the victims, Billy Lawrence, told the Independent that Henley should “die” in prison. “They weren’t hoodlums. They weren’t out to get into trouble. They were just innocent young boys that got kidnapped,” said Debbie Stellas.

She went on: “Being murdered was one thing – but being tortured and then murdered was another,” before adding, “what was he gaining by participating in this sickness?”