Why the Ebola and Hantavirus Outbreaks Have Confounded Scientists
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- A hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship M.V. Hondius caused up to 13 infections and three deaths, with the virus unusually spreading from person to person rather than through typical rodent contact.
- An Ebola outbreak in Africa has resulted in over 900 infections and 220 deaths, involving a strain of the virus that behaves differently from known Ebola viruses.
- Existing vaccines and antiviral treatments for Ebola may be ineffective against this new strain, complicating efforts to control the outbreak.
- Scientists emphasize the diversity among viruses, cautioning against assuming uniform behavior or treatment approaches based on virus family classifications.