World News for Students of English

08-05-2026 15:00

A dangerous disease called hantavirus has broken out aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius in the Atlantic Ocean.

So far, three people have died: a husband and wife from the Netherlands and a person from Germany. A British man is also very sick and is being treated in an intensive care unit in South Africa.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says there are at least seven cases in total. Local authorities in West Africa are worried and haven’t allowed the 149 passengers to leave the ship because they are afraid the disease might spread to the local people. Only two sick crew members might be allowed to leave for medical help. The rest of the passengers may have to sail for eight more days to reach the Canary Islands.

Hantavirus is spread by rodents like rats and mice. Humans can get sick if they touch the waste, saliva, or urine of these animals. Experts think the passengers might have caught it during bird-watching trips on land. A big problem is that it can take up to eight weeks for a person to show symptoms, so officials must watch the passengers for a long time. People on the ship are very worried because they feel they don’t have enough information and are stuck on the boat.

Difficult words: in total (the whole number or amount of something), rodent (a small animal with sharp front teeth, like a rat, a mouse, or a squirrel), saliva (the liquid that is produced in your mouth).

You can watch the video news lower on this page.