What is the hantavirus that killed three cruise ship passengers?

Three people have died in an outbreak of hantavirus on a luxury cruise ship, with another four confirmed or suspected cases.

What exactly is hantavirus, and what are the implications of its spread for global public health?

WHAT IS IT?

Hantaviruses are rodent-borne viruses that can infect people and cause illness. The World Health Organization estimates there are 10,000 to 100,000 human cases globally each year, with severity varying by strain...