You may have heard there’s a new virus making headlines. 

Three people have died and several others have fallen ill after an outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship.  

Governments and health agencies around the world are coordinating a mass evacuation of passengers – working together to get people home while at the same time trying to prevent any further spread. 

So, should we be worried here in New Zealand? What are the real-world risks for most people? What are the warning signs? And, what does this response tell us about how authorities handle a serious disease threat? Have we gotten any better at it?  

Today on The Front Page, Massey University infectious diseases expert Professor David Hayman is with us to unpack the outbreak, the evacuation, and whether this really is an unprecedented public health operation.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee