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Lessons From the Hantavirus Outbreak

May 15, 2026

Summary

Michael Barbaro interviews Apurva Mandavilli about a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, which has caused deaths and sparked global concern. They discuss the virus's transmissibility, noting it can spread through casual contact, and criticize the CDC’s delayed response and oversimplified messaging. The episode also covers U.S. military claims regarding civilian casualties in Iran and Cuba’s severe energy crisis.

Topics discussed

Intro: Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship Public fear vs. expert reassurance Timeline of the outbreak on the ship Transmission theories and CDC silence Ad breaks Transmissibility nuances and fatality rates Contact tracing and CDC's delayed response Lessons learned on public health communication Update on monitoring and ad breaks Headlines: Iran strikes and Cuba crisis Outro and final ad
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