An aerial view of the MV Hondius Dutch cruise ship anchored in the Atlantic off Cape Verde, Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

I've investigated a hantavirus outbreak. Here's what I can tell you

An expert shares his knowledge as the cruise ship cluster of hantavirus cases continues.

5:00pm

2:28

Health workers in protective gear evacuate patients from the MV Hondius cruise ship into an ambulance at a port in Praia, Cape Verde, Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

Two NZers on cruise ship stricken with hantavirus, one still onboard

The ship's operator said one New Zealander was among the 30 passengers who disembarked on a remote South Atlantic Island.

4:28pm

2:37

An aerial view of the MV Hondius Dutch cruise ship anchored in the Atlantic off Cape Verde, Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

Timeline: How the rare hantavirus cruise ship outbreak unfolded

Three passengers have died in the outbreak — a Dutch couple and a German national — and several others are sick.

12:45pm

2:28

Rachel McGillan Whangārei Youth Space Clinical Manager

'Loss of one life is too many': Crisis support launched for Northland youth

In response to a damning report into a suicide cluster, $1.7 million has been announced to open a youth acute respite service and three additional youth suicide prevention coordination roles.

6:00am

1:31

A nurse has detailed a near-fatal attack by a patient in respite care, which included being stabbed, burned, and held captive by a patient who threatened to kill her.

'Threatened to kill me': Nurse stabbed, burned, held captive by patient

A nurse’s near-fatal attack and a psychiatrist punched mid-assessment expose the growing threat of violence against Kiwi healthcare workers.

6:00am

The MV Hondius cruise ship is anchored at a port in Praia, Cape Verde

Hantavirus on the rise in Argentina, where stricken cruise ship began journey

Officials and experts in Argentina are scrambling to determine if their country is the source of a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has gripped an Atlantic cruise.

Thursday 12:53pm

Health workers in protective gear arrive to evacuate patients from the MV Hondius cruise ship at a port in Praia, Cape Verde, Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

Patients evacuated to Europe from cruise ship with hantavirus outbreak

Footage showed health workers in protective gear evacuating three passengers, including the ship's doctor.

Thursday 7:17am

Should you test for flu at home if you're feeling unwell?

Should you test for flu at home if you're feeling unwell?

You're “coming down with something”, maybe you have a scratchy throat and body aches - should you test?

Thursday 6:00am

A fertility lab technician (file image).

IVF clinic embryo mix-up in Victoria leads to trauma lawsuit

A good Samaritan couple who donated their embryos claim they suffered serious psychiatric injury as a result of the bungled implantation.

Wed, May 6

The University of Auckland study - which pulled together research from around the world - found 81% of 58 studies showed at least one negative link between screen use and the brain's executive function, or management system.

Kids' screen use linked to long-term attention, self-control problems - study

Lead researcher Claire Reid said the study found "a really clear pattern" that higher or problematic screen time predicted difficulties in attention and focus, planning, impulse control.

Wed, May 6

Health workers get off the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, a cruise ship carrying nearly 150 people as it remains off Cape Verde on Monday, May 4, 2026 after three passengers died and several others fell seriously ill in a suspected hantavirus outbreak.

Deserted decks and lounges: Eerie footage from onboard MV Hondius

Footage from aboard the ship shows deserted decks and gathering areas, medical teams in protective gear, and a still landscape ahead.

Wed, May 6

The MV Hondius cruise ship is anchored at a port in Praia, Cape Verde

Kiwi on board cruise ship at centre of suspected deadly hantavirus outbreak

Three people have died and others have fallen ill on the MV Hondius in the Atlantic, with MFAT confirming it is in contact with a New Zealander aboard the vessel.

Tue, May 5

A pair of rats (file image).

What to know about hantavirus, illness suspected in cruise ship outbreak

The illness is believed to have caused an outbreak aboard a cruise ship that killed three people and sickened others.

Tue, May 5

A dialysis machine (file image).

Life-saving dialysis at capacity, forcing some patients into nighttime treatment

The situation is becoming especially acute in Auckland, where dialysis machines are operating at 150% of their normal capacity.

Tue, May 5

Not a single congenitally blind person with schizophrenia has ever been reported.

Why people who are blind from birth never develop schizophrenia

The pattern holds across more than 70 years of evidence.

Tue, May 5

The baby died in August 2019.

Baby who died on mother's chest wasn't regularly checked

The incident occurred when the baby was placed on his mother’s chest for breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact after birth.

Mon, May 4

Meningococcal Disease.

'Frying from the inside' – double-amputee left to fend for herself

Prior to her collapse, Penny Taylor only knew she had a vomiting bug. In reality, it was meningococcal septicaemia.

Mon, May 4

Soul Mathew Turany. (Source: Supplied / Facebook)

Baby Soul's death still a mystery more than a decade later

Soul Mathew Turany was 16 weeks old when he was flown to Christchurch Hospital with a fractured skull and bleeding in his brain and eyes.

Mon, May 4

In a statement to The Associated Press, the WHO said an investigation was ongoing but that at least one case of hantavirus had been confirmed.

Hantavirus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship kills three people - WHO

Hantavirus infections are typically linked to exposure to the feces or urine of infected rodents, WHO said.

Mon, May 4

A baby holding their parent's hand.

Eleven-week-old baby dies after mistrusting parents don't go to doctor

Azariah Levi's parents never got any antenatal or postnatal care and he was born at home without a midwife.

Mon, May 4

Potato chips

How unhealthy foods are designed to make you crave them

New research shows how human behaviour and biology are harnessed to create feedback loops that drive people to buy and eat more ultra-processed foods.

Mon, May 4

A kid wears a mouthguard.

The 'eye opening' truth about what's living in kids' mouthguards

Researchers discovered that bacterial communities can live on mouthguards and aren’t easily washed away by a quick rinse under the tap.

Sun, May 3

New Zealanders are being reminded that colder weather brings more than winter wardrobes – it also marks the beginning of flu season.

Flu vaccines, winter bugs and what you need to know this season

Colder weather helps viruses spread more easily, but vaccination and simple habits can help keep you well through the colder months.

Sat, May 2

Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

Shock health diagnosis for Storm coach Craig Bellamy

The Storm issued a statement 24 hours out from their NRL clash with the Dolphins in Brisbane after the 66-year-old Bellamy underwent a series of recent tests.

Fri, May 1

April 2026
A hormone replacement therapy (HRT) oestrogen patch on a person's arm (file image).

Pharmac 'actively managing supply issues' for two forms of HRT

Pharmac said supply of some funded oestradiol patches and progesterone capsules remained "tight and unpredictable" due to global supply issues.

Thu, Apr 30