Health officials are closely monitoring a passenger who reportedly developed signs of hantavirus after sharing a flight with a suspected MV Hondius cruise case

A man who never set foot on the hantavirus‐hit cruise ship MV Hondius is believed to have contracted the deadly infection after sharing a flight with an infected passenger.

Health officials are understood to be closely monitoring the unnamed French traveller, who is being treated as a high‐risk contact after developing symptoms consistent with the rodent‐borne virus. He had unknowingly boarded the same flight as a Dutch woman who had disembarked the vessel with gastric complaints, before her infection was confirmed.

Airlink, the South African airline operating the route from Saint Helena to Johannesburg, said 82 passengers and six crew were on board. The World Health Organisation is now working to trace all those who shared the flight with the infected traveller, reports the Mirror.

To date, three individuals – a 70 year old Dutch man, his 69 year old wife, and a German woman – have died following the outbreak connected to the cruise vessel.

Former British police officer Martin Anstee, 56, along with two other cruise passengers, have reached the Netherlands for specialist medical care, while another patient is receiving treatment in Zurich, Switzerland.

The Swiss Health ministry stated that the University Hospital Zurich was “prepared to deal with such cases” and emphasised there is “currently no risk to the Swiss public”.

Health authorities in Argentina – from where the MV Hondius departed a month ago – are now investigating whether the outbreak originated within the country. The nation’s health ministry revealed yesterday that it will conduct rodent trapping and testing in Ushuaia, the port from which the vessel set sail.

The World Health Organisation consistently places Argentina at the top of Latin American nations for incidence rates of the uncommon, rodent-transmitted illness.

On Tuesday, the Argentine Health Ministry disclosed 101 hantavirus cases since June 2025, approximately twice the number documented during the corresponding period in the preceding year.

In South America, a strain known as the Andes virus can trigger a serious and frequently fatal respiratory condition called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. According to Argentina’s Health Ministry, the illness proved fatal in almost a third of cases over the past year, a significant increase from an average rate of 15 in the five years prior.

Hugo Pizzi, a leading Argentine infectious disease expert, commented: “Argentina has become more tropical because of climate change, and that has brought disruptions, like dengue and yellow fever, but also new tropical plants that produce seeds for mice to proliferate. There is no doubt that as time goes by, the hantavirus is spreading more and more.”

Hantavirus typically transmits through breathing in contaminated rodent faeces. While human-to-human transmission can occur, the World Health Organisation states this is uncommon, with their leading epidemic specialist confirming the threat to the general public remains minimal.

The Andes strain – identified amongst positive test samples aboard the MV Hondius – represents the sole hantavirus variant known to pass between humans. The virus has an incubation period ranging from one to eight weeks.

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“We’ll continue to support them and their families whilst they self isolate, probably at home, but obviously depends very much on the individual circumstances, depending on where they live and who they live with, as to what the most appropriate mechanism is for them to self-isolate for the next 45 days.”

Mark Eurovision’s 70th anniversary with our must-read edition from contest expert Paul Cole. Featuring the 70 songs, artists and iconic performances that shaped the world’s biggest music spectacle

Get your hands on the Legends of Eurovision edition here and celebrate 70 years of unforgettable song contest magic.

EUROVISION is turning 70—and we’re starting the party the best way we know how, with a dedicated special edition. In Legends of Eurovision, our song contest expert Paul Cole counts down 70 songs that helped shape the event, each with its own story, each artist earning their place in Eurovision history.

From UK favourites Bucks Fizz, Brotherhood of Man, Cliff Richard, Lulu, Sandie Shaw and Katrina and the Waves, to Eurovision royalty including Celine Dion, Johnny Logan, Dana, Lordi, Alexander Rybak, Conchita Wurst and, of course, Abba—this is the ultimate celebration of the contest’s greatest moments.

And there are few more qualified than Paul to curate a standalone like this. He’s lunched with ABBA in Manchester, partied with Bucks Fizz in Birmingham, and interviewed Eurovision names including Katrina & The Waves, Olivia Newton-John, Cliff Richard, Michael Ball, Johnny Logan, Sonia, Blue, Gina G, Engelbert Humperdinck and more. He’s even shared a studio with Terry Wogan.

Paul’s Eurovision story runs even deeper: in 1976, he sat on the judging panel that sent Brotherhood of Man to the contest with Save All Your Kisses for Me—a “catchy little tune” that went on to become Eurovision history.

Alongside the song countdown, we also spotlight the most iconic performances that make Eurovision, Eurovision. Consider it a definitive douze pointer.

Pick up the Legends of Eurovision special edition now and relive seven decades of unforgettable musical moments from across Europe. Postage and packaging applies. Available to purchase from all participating retailers and supermarkets.

Two people died in the collision in Lancashire – a man in his 20s and 18-year-old Victoria Niebylska, who has been named locally as a passenger

A young woman who tragically lost her life in hospital following a road collision in Haslingden has been identified locally as Victoria Niebylska, as an outpouring of tributes continues in her honour.

The 18 year old was one of two teenage passengers in a VW Golf that left the road on Helmshore Road, colliding with the side of a house and a retaining wall at approximately 11.49pm on Monday (May 4). Emergency services were scrambled to the scene at the junction with Dean Road after the vehicle departed the southbound carriageway.

The driver, a man in his 20s, was pronounced dead in hospital on Tuesday morning. In a further devastating turn of events, officers subsequently confirmed a second fatality, disclosing that the 18-year-old passenger had passed away in hospital on Tuesday night (May 5), reports Lancs Live.

A wave of heartfelt tributes has been shared across social media by Victoria’s friends, who remembered her as a “beautiful soul” and “full of promise, full of dreams, and with everything still ahead of her”. An online fundraising page has been established in her memory, while numerous tributes have been laid at the site of the crash.

Brittany Horsfield wrote: “Rest in absolute paradise my girl. My heart is shattered. Forever made me laugh always there and I mean always, keep going over your crazy voice notes. Feel weird that our last message will never get opened. There wasn’t another soul like you. It don’t seem real. Love you forever and always Victoria.”

Delta Vienna wrote: “The world feels dimmer now, like someone quietly turned down the light when she left. She wasn’t just my best friend-she was my anchor, the steady place I could always return to when everything else felt uncertain. She was the reason my days felt brighter, the reason I found laughter even when things were heavy.

“Now there’s this silence where her voice used to be, this emptiness where her warmth once lived. I keep reaching for her in the little moments, the ones we would’ve shared, only to remember she’s gone-and it breaks my heart all over again.

“My precious girl, my heart it’s broken, knowing I’m not gonna be able to just message you, hear you voice see you is breaking me apart, I hope you rest peacefully my angel I love you millions baby girl.”

Georgia Gardener said: “RIP to a beautiful soul. Such a crazy girl with an amazing personality and you will be so missed as a person. You really was such a lovely girl with the best intentions and anyone who knew you will know this! Even though we bickered all the time we always made up in the end, will forever cherise the memories we made as teenagers, fly high beautiful girl.”

Shimarni Williams penned: “She was just… her. So beautiful, but not in a way she ever cared about, she was more about making people laugh, saying whatever came into her head, and just being completely free in herself. She was the sweetest person, always there when you needed her, and somehow still cracking jokes even when things were hard. And she was so brave, honestly braver than most people I’ve ever known, even if she didn’t always see it herself.

“Being around her just felt easy, like you could be yourself without thinking twice. I miss her more than I can even put into words, but I know I’ll carry her with me in everything I do forever and ever my girl.”

Chelsea Ryan said: “Victoria Niebylska fly high beautiful I’m glad I had the pleasure of knowing you and making some amazing memories with you are feral house parties at 15.

“Oh you will be missed more than you will ever know love you forever and a day until we meet again angel my condolences to all family and friends that knew vic. Forever 18.”

Lily Rawsthorn said: “Rest in peace beautiful girl Victoria Niebylska u didn’t deserve this, don’t be dancing to hard up there. Sending love to ur family. U brought light in any room you walked in such a good character, you will be missed by many.”

A GoFundMe page established by Zuzanna Kostuch has collected approximately £600 thus far towards a £5,500 goal.

It said: “On the 5th of May 2026, the world lost a bright and beautiful soul far too soon. Victoria had only just turned 18 in July 2025, standing on the threshold of her adult life – full of promise, full of dreams, and with everything still ahead of her. Funeral arrangements are being handled separately, and this fund has been set up purely to honour her memory in a lasting way.

“We would love to place a memorial bench at the cemetery – a permanent, peaceful place where family and friends can sit, remember, and feel close to her. Every contribution, no matter how small, will go directly toward creating a beautiful tribute that reflects the wonderful person she was. We are thankful for each and every contribution!”

Lancashire Police have confirmed that specialist family liaison officers are providing support to her family during what they have described as a “sad and distressing time”. The second teenage girl remains in hospital with serious injuries.

The section of road between Haslingden and Helmshore was shut for more than eight hours while investigative work was carried out. Enquiries into the collision continue, with officers still appealing for witnesses or relevant footage.

Anyone with dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage from the vicinity is urged to contact police by dialling 101, quoting log 1623 of May 4, or by emailing SCIU@lancashire.police.uk

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