X @xChops

⚠️BREAKING—The @WHO has declared the Ebola epidemic a new “PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN” (PHEIC)… and for good reasons: The sudden 2026 Ebola epidemic event is extraordinary for the following reasons: 📌As of 16 May 2026, eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths have been reported in Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo across at least three health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu. In addition, two laboratory confirmed cases (including one death) with ***no apparent link to each other*** have been reported in Kampala, Uganda, within 24 hours of each other, on 15 and 16 May 2026, among two individuals travelling from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On 16 May, a laboratory confirmed case has also been reported in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among someone returning from Ituri. 📌Unusual clusters of community deaths with symptoms compatible with Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) have been reported across several health zones in Ituri, and suspected cases have been reported across Ituri and North Kivu. In addition, ***at least four deaths among healthcare workers in a clinical context suggestive of viral haemorrhagic fever have been reported from the affected area raising concerns regarding healthcare-associated transmission***, gaps in infection prevention and control measures, and the potential for amplification within health facilities. 📌There are significant uncertainties to the true number of infected persons and geographic spread associated with this event at the present time. In addition, there is limited understanding of the epidemiological links with known or suspected cases. 📌However, the high positivity rate of the initial samples collected (with eight positives among 13 samples collected in various areas), the confirmation of cases in both Kampala and Kinshasa, the increasing trends in syndromic reporting of suspected cases and clusters of deaths across the province of Ituri all ***point towards a potentially much larger outbreak than what is currently being detected and reported, with significant local and regional risk of spread***.

MUST READ! Study Finds That Mites Can Be Vectors for Hantaviruses from Rodents and Can Also Serve as Long-Term Viral Reservoirs #BreakingNews #Hantavirus

Thursday May 14th. Here are the main developments in the last 24 hours regarding the MV Hondius Andes hantavirus situation: Current case count European public health authorities now report: 11 total cases 8 confirmed 2 probable 1 inconclusive 3 deaths total Importantly, no new deaths and no major surge in new confirmed cases in the last 24 hours. Australians and New Zealanders evacuated Australia has now arranged a specialized repatriation flight: 4 Australians 1 New Zealander 1 Australian permanent resident They are traveling in full PPE and will undergo quarantine at Australia’s national resilience facility in Western Australia. All reportedly remain asymptomatic and tested negative before departure. UK passengers discharged from hospital quarantine Six UK-linked passengers who had been isolated at Arrowe Park Hospital were: discharged, tested negative, and are now completing isolation at home. UK authorities are still monitoring additional contacts and repatriating more exposed passengers from remote islands. European CDC update The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) released updated guidance today: risk to the general European population remains “very low” concern remains focused on close-contact exposure chains updated laboratory testing guidance for high-risk contacts was issued today. Netherlands update Dutch authorities confirmed: all repatriated passengers are under mandatory 6-week home isolation weekly testing is continuing three previously symptomatic airplane contacts in the Netherlands ultimately tested negative. United States situation No confirmed secondary U.S. community transmission has been reported. However: exposed passengers remain under monitoring in Nebraska and Atlanta, one previously reported mildly PCR-positive U.S. passenger remains under observation, California officials are monitoring an additional exposed traveler linked to the ship. Ship status The MV Hondius itself is reportedly: heading toward Rotterdam, undergoing decontamination/disinfection procedures, with a reduced crew and medical oversight onboard. Overall impression from today’s updates The situation currently appears more consistent with: a contained international contact-tracing event rather than an expanding uncontrolled outbreak. Health agencies continue emphasizing that Andes virus can spread person-to-person, but usually requires prolonged close contact, not casual exposure.

80 mutations from nearest Clade-3 human case (8 years ago) seems quite a LOT to me in terms of *potential* functional change. E.g. Wuhan to Omicron SARS-2 Devil is in DETAIL of whether 80nt are synonymous drift or functional change! 1/2

Dr Steven Quay @quay_dr

a month ago

How the 2026 hantavirus cases relate to prior sequenced cases: -Yellow highlighted case (ANDV/Switzerland/Hu-3337/2026) is the first sequenced case from the cruise ship -It sits nicely within a large collection of other human cases -The overall rate of new mutations is <12 per

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May 12 Update: We now have 6x 2026 Andes Hantavirus sequences: - rodent-to-human Index Case - five Human-to-Human transmissions L Gene: 15 unknown bases S Gene: 6 Inserted / 42 deleted / 7 unknown bases M Gene: 1 deleted / 6 unknown bases pathoplexus.org

🚨 JUST IN: Scientists who warned about airborne COVID are now urging WHO to treat Andes hantavirus as airborne by default warning the world not to repeat past mistakes

Another hantavirus cruise evacuee is confirmed to have the disease as international spread continues trib.al/vOSHOZb

BREAKING: First sequencing of the Hantavirus from the outbreak. -99% identical to a June 2018 case from a patient in Argentina -10.4 SNV/year mutation rate - The Andes genome is about 12 kb across three RNA segments. At 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻³ substitutions/site/year, that translates very roughly to 1-12 SNV per year -Completely in line with a natural spillover in Argentina from the rodent host in 2018 and now in 2026 Source: virological.org/t/complete-seq…

My simulations are showing that if Hantavirus has R0=2.1+ and it gains a foothold, that we would need a multi-intervention approach across all of society to get it under control.

Ξpi-Yeti @TheMemeticist

2 months ago

If R0 = 2.1 for Hantavirus, a multi-year simulation shows it could kill 7% of the population.

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Strength is not measured by ownership, but by freedom from being owned.

The road never truly ends—each ending unfolds into a new beginning, and every beginning carries the seed of an end. Life is brief, but beyond its limits, another journey always awaits.

we are all bad in someone’s story.

Hard silence—no devices, no noise—heals more than words. Yet we flee it: sabotage to our hustle or salvation for our soul? Why hard silence terrifies us... and why it’s your nervous system’s reset.🧵

✨

You can’t drag someone into growth. You can plant seeds. You can model integrity. You can speak honestly and gently. But the moment you start begging someone to take responsibility, you’re doing more work than they are, and that’s not sustainable.

@VexKing Pain becomes permanent when a man refuses to confront himself. Happiness is not found. It is built through discipline, alignment, and hard choices. Every day he delays change, he strengthens the cage. A man must either master his habits, or be ruled by them.