95.1 The Bee

International health officials are tracing passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius after a rare outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus left three people dead and several others infected. The virus, unlike most hantavirus variants, can spread between humans through close contact. Investigators in Argentina are now conducting rodent testing and tracing the travelers’ movements to determine where the outbreak began.

Authorities in at least 12 countries — including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and Germany — are monitoring travelers who left the ship before the illness was identified. U.S. officials confirmed that passengers in Georgia, Virginia, Arizona, and California are being observed, though none have reported symptoms.

Oceanwide Expeditions said in a statement that the company “continues to manage an ongoing medical situation on board m/v Hondius” and that their “cooperation continues with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The outbreak began during a bird-watching expedition linked to South America. The World Health Organization said the first victims, a Dutch couple, had recently traveled through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, including areas where rodents known to carry the Andes virus are found. The husband died aboard the ship on April 11, but doctors initially did not suspect hantavirus because his symptoms resembled other respiratory illnesses. His wife later disembarked on the remote Atlantic island of St. Helena and became severely ill while traveling through South Africa. She briefly boarded a KLM flight in Johannesburg before being removed because of her condition and later died there.

Subsequently, a British passenger evacuated from the ship to South Africa became the first confirmed hantavirus case on May 2 and remains hospitalized, though officials say his condition has improved. Another passenger later tested positive in Switzerland, while several additional suspected cases are under investigation in Europe and Asia.

Dutch officials are also testing a flight attendant who may have been exposed after contact with the infected Dutch woman. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said that a Dutch woman who died after contracting hantavirus was “briefly” on board a flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam and was removed from the plane before takeoff. It is not clear if the flight attendant was on this same flight. KLM said in a statement it does not comment on individual cases “for privacy reasons.” If confirmed, it would mark the first known infection tied to someone who was not aboard the ship.

The WHO says the overall public risk remains low because the Andes virus does not spread easily like COVID-19 or influenza. Officials noted that transmission typically requires prolonged close contact, especially among partners, family members, or caregivers. About 30 passengers left the ship in St. Helena on April 24 before health authorities realized hantavirus was involved, prompting an international effort to locate and monitor them. Some governments have advised exposed travelers to isolate for up to 45 days because symptoms can appear anywhere from one to eight weeks after exposure.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya from the CDC said in a statement: “Our hearts go out to the passengers aboard the cruise ship M/V Hondius and their families during this difficult time. Our CDC team began coordinating with domestic and international partners as soon as we were notified of a hantavirus situation. We understand that people are concerned and looking for information and that is why we provided clear, written health guidance to the American passengers through the State Department. The safety and health of the affected American travelers is our number one goal. Hantavirus is not spread by people without symptoms, transmission requires close contact, and the risk to the American public is very low. CDC has the world’s leading experts on hantavirus and is lending its technical expertise when coordinating with interagency partners, state health offices, and international authorities on response and repatriation planning. We will be monitoring the health status and preparing medical support for all of the American passengers on the cruise. CDC will continue to update as more information becomes available and remains committed to protecting the health and safety of the American public.”

Nearly 150 passengers and crew members remain aboard the Hondius as it sails toward Spain’s Canary Islands. Crew members are disinfecting cabins and isolating anyone who develops symptoms. So far, no additional illnesses have been reported among those still on the vessel.

The CDC said the State Department is coordinating with global health agencies and directly contacting affected passengers. Officials stressed there is no sign of a wider epidemic, and experts say hantavirus infections are extremely rare. According to CDC data, fewer than 900 confirmed cases were reported in the U.S. between 1993 and 2023.

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President Donald Trump welcomed Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the White House on Thursday for a closely watched meeting centered on trade disputes, tariffs, and international security issues. Thursday’s meeting marked Lula’s first White House visit during either of Trump’s nonconsecutive terms and signaled an effort by both governments to stabilize relations despite ongoing political and economic disagreements.

Although the meeting had originally been expected to include a joint appearance before reporters in the Oval Office, the press event was ultimately canceled. Lula departed the White House after roughly three hours of closed-door talks, without addressing the media alongside Trump.

The discussions came amid strained relations between the two countries after the Trump administration imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports and sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes over cases involving former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a longtime Trump ally.

In addition to trade, the leaders reportedly discussed global security concerns, including tensions involving Iran. Lula said he shared with Trump a copy of a 2010 nuclear agreement negotiated by Brazil and Turkey with Iran, arguing that diplomacy had once offered a path toward limiting nuclear development. Lula has previously criticized Trump’s military actions involving Iran, calling the conflict “madness” and saying Trump “has no right to wake up in the morning and threaten a country.”

Trump later described the meeting positively on Truth Social, calling Lula “very dynamic” and saying discussions covered trade and tariffs. He added that representatives from both governments would continue negotiations in the coming weeks, with additional meetings expected later this year.

Lula later spoke to reporters at the Brazilian embassy, where he said he left the talks “very satisfied” and described the conversation as important for both nations. Brazilian officials also characterized the discussions as productive and confirmed that both sides plan to continue talks aimed at reducing U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods. The Brazilian president said he had chosen not to participate in a press conference before the meeting took place, arguing that it made little sense to answer questions before the leaders had spoken privately.

Despite political differences and past clashes, relations between the two leaders appear to have improved over recent months. Trump has repeatedly defended Bolsonaro, who is facing legal action over an alleged coup attempt following Brazil’s last presidential election, describing the case as a “witch hunt” and accusing Brazilian courts of political persecution.

Still, Trump and Lula have maintained communication since first meeting backstage at the U.N. General Assembly last year, where both leaders publicly noted unexpectedly positive chemistry. They later met again during Trump’s trip to Malaysia and have spoken several times by phone since then.

Ted Turner, the bold entrepreneur who reshaped television with the launch of the first 24-hour news network and built a far-reaching media empire, has died at 87.

His passing was confirmed by his company, which said he died peacefully surrounded by family. Turner Enterprises shared in a statement: “On behalf of the Turner family, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of philanthropist, environmentalist and cable pioneer Ted Turner who died peacefully today at age 87, surrounded by his family … He is survived by his five children – Laura Turner Seydel (Rutherford), Robert E. (Teddy) Turner IV (Blair), Rhett Turner, Beau Turner (Georgia), Jennie Turner Garlington (Peek), fourteen
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The family has requested privacy during this time as they grieve the death of their beloved patriarch. A private family service is planned, and a public memorial will be held at a later date, with details to follow.”  Turner revealed in 2018 that he had been living with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder that affected his memory in later years.

President Trump reacted to Turner’s death with a post on Truth Social, writing: “Ted Turner, one of the Greats of All Time, just died … one of the Greats of Broadcast History, and a friend of mine. Whenever I needed him, he was there, always willing to fight for a good cause!”

Born Robert Edward Turner III in Cincinnati and raised in Savannah, Georgia, he briefly attended Brown University before joining the Coast Guard Reserve. After his father’s death, he took over the family advertising business and transformed it into a global operation, laying the foundation for his future in media. In the 1970s, Turner made a pivotal move by acquiring a struggling Atlanta television station and turning it into a nationwide “superstation” via satellite—a breakthrough that helped redefine cable broadcasting. He followed that innovation with the launch of CNN in 1980, driven by a simple idea: continuous news coverage.

CNN quickly proved its value by delivering live coverage of major global events, changing how audiences consumed news. Turner expanded aggressively, creating additional networks including CNN International, TNT, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies, while also acquiring film libraries that became key programming assets.

In a statement, CNN chief Mark Thompson said, “Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement,” adding that Turner’s influence remains central to the network’s identity.

Beyond television, Turner ventured into sports, purchasing the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks. Under his ownership, the Braves captured the 1995 World Series. He also entered professional wrestling with World Championship Wrestling, which later became a major rival in the industry. In 1996, Turner Broadcasting merged with Time Warner in a landmark deal, followed by the high-profile AOL-Time Warner merger in 2001.

His interests extended far beyond media. An accomplished sailor, he won the America’s Cup in 1977. He also became one of the largest private landowners in the U.S., dedicating vast acreage to conservation and building the country’s largest private herd of bison. In 2002, he launched a restaurant chain centered on sustainable bison cuisine.

Turner’s philanthropic impact was equally significant. He established the Turner Foundation to support environmental causes and pledged $1 billion to the United Nations, leading to the creation of the United Nations Foundation. He also co-founded the Nuclear Threat Initiative to reduce global security risks. Over his lifetime, Turner received numerous honors, including Time magazine’s “Man of the Year” and a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to broadcasting.

Turner was married three times, including a high-profile relationship with actress Jane Fonda, whom he later described as a lasting love: “When you love somebody, and you really love ’em, you never stop loving ’em.” He is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. A private service is planned, with a public memorial to follow.

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