Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which affects the lungs, is mainly found in the United States. If a person becomes infected with this type of hantavirus, within days they will likely experience coughing and shortness of breath.

So, what is hantavirus? And why can it be so deadly?

Globally, there are an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 cases of hantavirus each year.

Hantavirus does not typically spread from person to person. However, in rare cases it may spread between people.

What is hantavirus?

Read more:
What is a virus? How do they spread? How do they make us sick?

In a closed environment such as a cruise ship, there are two possible ways passengers could have contracted hantavirus.

People usually develop symptoms within two weeks of being exposed to this virus. Early symptoms include severe headaches, abdominal pain, nausea and blurred vision. More advanced symptoms include low blood pressure, internal bleeding and even acute kidney failure. This disease can be caused by different viruses and some are more deadly than others, meaning between 1% and 15% of cases can be fatal.

Read more:
How do viruses mutate and jump species? And why are ‘spillovers’ becoming more common?

Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment or cure for either type of hantavirus. However, early medical treatment may increase a person’s chance of survival. This can include using respirators, oxygen therapy and dialysis.

It is less contagious than airborne viruses such as COVID and influenza, as it typically does not spread from person to person.

What makes it so deadly?

Although alarming, cases of hantavirus remain are extremely rare. But it can look similar to other respiratory illness, so you should always get symptoms checked. If you’ve been in regions where the virus is found and experience shortness of breath, fever or any other flu-like symptoms, see your GP.

As the investigation unfolds, here’s what we know.

There are two main types of hantavirus, each with different symptoms.

To contain this suspected outbreak, authorities must first ensure any rodents are safely contained and removed from the ship. They should then monitor all passengers for hantavirus symptoms. The virus is diagnosed with a PCR test, similar to those used to diagnose viruses such as COVID.

Given there is no specific treatment for the disease, authorities must help any infected passengers manage their symptoms. This involves checking that they are breathing normally and their kidneys are functioning properly.

Read more:
5 virus families that could cause the next pandemic, according to the experts

The other possibility is that rodents may have entered the ship on cargo, and then spread the disease to passengers through their infected urine or droppings. Other factors such as hygiene standards and food storage practices may have caused the infection to spread more quickly.

The virus is spread by rodents, such as mice and rats, mainly through the urine and droppings of infected animals.

How did it get on a cruise ship?

Authorities are still investigating which type of hantavirus the passengers were exposed to.

Hantavirus is a rare but severe respiratory illness that can cause severe bleeding, fever and even death.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is mainly found in Europe and Asia, but the strain known as the Seoul virus has spread around the world. This form of hantavirus mainly affects the kidneys.

As the illness progresses, they can develop symptoms such as fatigue, fever and muscle aches. They may also get headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. This is the most deadly kind of hantavirus. Tragically, about 38% of people who develop these symptoms die from the disease.

The World Health Organization announced the deaths in a social media statement on Monday, along with one confirmed case of the rare disease. Authorities are investigating another five suspected cases among passengers travelling on the MV Hondius.

One is being exposed to the virus while on a shore excursion.

So, how worried should we be?

Three people have died after a suspected outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. At least one other passenger is in intensive care in South Africa.

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Bowel cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages, which is why screening is so effective. But in some cases, you might notice the following symptoms:

Our research from 2019 shows rates of bowel cancer are increasing among younger Australians.

As of July 2024, people aged between 45 and 49 can request a stool (poo) kit as part of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. In the first six months of the expanded program, 77,000 eligible Australians aged 45 to 49 requested a kit.

So if you’re a younger person, should you be worried about bowel cancer? And how can you reduce your risk of developing it?

Bowel cancer is one of the few cancers we can successfully screen for.

Who’s most at risk?

It’s unclear what is driving this increase. But current evidence suggests lifestyle changes over time (such as poorer diet, increased alcohol intake and physical inactivity) may contribute to it.

However, we also tend to diagnose younger people later. This is because we either don’t recognise bowel cancer symptoms or attribute them to other, often more benign conditions.

Despite these opposing trends, bowel cancer is still more common in older adults. In 2021, there were 1,884 cases recorded in people under 50 compared to 13,020 in people over 50.

So no matter how old you are, small actions including screening regularly, noticing symptoms, and living healthily, can help reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer.

Current research suggests the average Australian has a one in 23 chance of being diagnosed with bowel cancer by the age of 85.

In contrast, rates of bowel cancer in Australians over 50 have fallen since the 1990s. This is likely due to factors such as screening and advancements in treatment.

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, develops when cells in any part of the large intestine grow in an uncontrolled way.

During 2022 and 2023, the Australian government supported a revision to the national guidelines for population screening of bowel cancer. Given the rising rates of bowel cancer among younger Australians, the guidelines now recommend beginning bowel cancer screening at age 45.

About half of all bowel cancer cases appear to be linked to lifestyle-related factors. These include alcohol consumption, smoking, physical inactivity, diets high in red and processed meat, and low fibre intake.

Are there ways to reduce my risk of developing bowel cancer?

Originally the program offered this test to people aged between 50 and 74. However, only 41.7% of eligible Australians did the test from 2022 to 2023. That means many people who could benefit from early detection missed out.

1. Do a poo test

The remaining cases are influenced by factors you can’t control. These include genetics, inflammatory bowel disease, and older age.

We can use screening to find and remove a polyp before it develops into cancer. We can also use screening to diagnose cancers at a very early stage, when treatment is simpler and survival rates can be as high as 90%.

In Australia, we’ve adopted the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. Under this program, people can complete a free at-home stool (poo) test every two years. This test detects small traces of blood in the stool which may indicate a polyp or cancer.

You can reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer just by adopting a healthier lifestyle. Some helpful changes you can make are:

Our research from 2019 investigated bowel and rectal cancer in people aged 50 and below. Between 1982 and 2014, the average rates of both cancers in this age group increased by between 1% and 9% per year, a worrying trend.

Younger Australians must opt-in to screening by requesting a kit through the National Cancer Screening Register. But if your family has a history of bowel cancer, a screening colonoscopy might be more appropriate. It’s important to discuss this with your GP.

Yes. Here are three.

3. Prioritise healthy living

If you experience any of these symptoms, speak to a GP.

• changes in bowel habits, which last more than a few weeks
• visible blood in stool
• persistent abdominal pain
• unexplained weight loss
• anaemia, a medical condition where you don’t have enough red blood cells or haemoglobin to carry oxygen around your body.

It’s also important to tell your GP if you have any family history of bowel cancer. This is particularly true for younger people. Having even one close relative diagnosed under age 60 increases your own risk.

Bowel cancer has been making headlines around the world, following the death last week of actor James Van Der Beek. The former Dawson’s Creek actor was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 45.

In 2025, it was estimated to be the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. Roughly one in every 21 men and one in every 25 women are projected to be diagnosed with bowel cancer by the age of 85.

Australia has one of the highest overall rates of bowel cancer internationally. It’s also the second most common cause of cancer-related death.

• following a healthy diet centred around wholegrains, legumes, and vegetables while limiting processed meat consumption
• staying active, aiming to do at least 30 minutes of activity most days
• limiting alcohol consumption
• quitting smoking.

2. Look out for symptoms

The post Bowel cancer rates are rising among young people – but they can reduce their risk appeared first on MASSIVE News.

Farmers began to employ them as pest controllers. It was through this arrangement that cats and milk first became acquainted.

Before the commercialisation of pet food, cats were mostly fed scraps from the family table. Not much was known about their nutritional needs. In his 1877 book on cats, Scottish doctor Gordon Stables insisted cats need two bowls – “one for water and the other for milk” – and suggested porridge and milk as an excellent feline breakfast.

From these origins, cats and milk became further embedded in the collective zeitgeist through depictions of milk-loving cats in art, books, movies and cartoons. There’s even the classic trope of the scruffy street cat being rescued from the rain to enjoy a saucer of milk from a kindly stranger.

While it’s not surprising that cats and milk have persisted as an unquestioned combination, research now tells us cats shouldn’t be drinking milk at all.

The vast majority of cats are lactose intolerant

Like all mammals, cats begin life drinking milk from their mother. But past kittenhood, milk is a completely unnecessary part of a cat’s diet.

After weaning (around 6–12 weeks of age), kittens stop producing the enzyme lactase, required to digest lactose in milk. For the vast majority of cats, this means they are lactose intolerant.

However, just like in humans, the level of intolerance varies for each individual based on how much of the enzyme their body naturally produces.

Don’t rush to give your kitten milk, though. Just because kittens can digest lactose doesn’t mean they should be drinking cow’s milk. Cats are much smaller animals than cows and, fittingly, the amount of lactose in the milk of mother cats is much lower than in cow’s milk. It’s best to let them drink from their mother or to get them a kitten-appropriate cat formula.

Lactose intolerance isn’t the only reason not to give your cats milk. Though rare, cats can also develop an allergy to milk or dairy.

What happens to cats who drink milk?

Lactose is a type of sugar. When it can’t be broken down to be absorbed into the bloodstream, lactose travels through the intestines to the colon where the bacteria inside the body ferment it.

This fermentation breaks lactose down into acids and gases which cause unpleasant symptoms, including the passing of excessive gas, bloating, constipation, abdominal pain and occasionally nausea and vomiting. In cats, the most common symptom observed is diarrhoea.

Chronic or persistent diarrhoea can cause further complications such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and malnutrition. In some cases, it can even be life threatening.

Cats who consume milk or dairy regularly as part of their diet are at increased risk of these health complications.

If milk is so bad for cats, why do they love it?

We often like things that are bad for us. But to answer this question, we first have to remember cow’s milk is intended for feeding and growing a baby cow.

To achieve this feat, it contains an assortment of proteins and fats that are highly palatable, especially to cats. Cats need high levels of protein and fat for optimal health and daily functioning.

Cow’s milk, in particular, is also high in casein, a protein that is broken down by the body into alpha-casozepine. In some studies, it’s been associated with a calming effect in cats. While this wouldn’t initially make a cat want to drink milk, it may create a comforting association with milk over time.

Can I give milk sometimes as a treat? What about milk alternatives?

The short answer is: no.

Dairy is not a natural part of cats’ diet. While they may like the taste, milk is likely to cause your furry friend discomfort and health issues, so it’s best to avoid entirely.

And if you’re thinking your cat is one of the lucky few that isn’t lactose intolerant, think again. Cats are very good at hiding discomfort because, in the wild, showing weakness would make them a target for predators.

If you absolutely must, opt for lactose-free milk or milk formulated specifically for cats, and keep it as a very occasional treat.

While it won’t upset their stomachs in the same way as regular cow’s milk, it still won’t offer your cat any nutritional benefit.

As for milk alternatives like oat, soy or almond milk? Any unusual additions to your cat’s diet are likely to cause digestive upset, so it’s best to avoid these as well.

The bottom line? Don’t give your cat milk. They don’t need it, they probably can’t digest it and it’s likely to cause more pain than it’s worth.

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