Health authorities are intensifying efforts to trace passengers exposed to hantavirus following an outbreak aboard the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius that has left three people dead and several others ill after the vessel travelled through remote regions of South America.

The outbreak has sparked an international response as passengers from the ship have already returned to countries including the UK, South Africa, the Netherlands, the United States and Switzerland.

According to health officials, three passengers died either while onboard or after leaving the ship, while four others were medically evacuated for treatment. The World Health Organization confirmed that eight cases linked to the vessel — three confirmed and five suspected — have so far been identified.

Despite the seriousness of the outbreak, the WHO stressed that the virus does not pose the same level of global threat as highly contagious respiratory diseases.

“This is not Covid, this is not influenza, it spreads very, very differently,” said Maria Van Kerkhove during a briefing on Thursday.

Experts believe the outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, one of the rare hantavirus strains capable of spreading between humans. However, officials say the risk of widespread international transmission remains low because the virus is far less contagious than illnesses such as COVID-19 or Measles.

Hantavirus infections are usually linked to rodents, with people becoming infected after inhaling virus particles from rodent urine, saliva or droppings. Investigators are still working to determine how the outbreak on board began.

The cruise had reportedly visited remote wildlife areas in South America, raising the possibility that a passenger may have been exposed to the virus before boarding or during excursions ashore.

Health experts say some of the cases on the ship may have resulted from close human contact in the vessel’s confined environment. Cruise ships often involve shared dining spaces, cabins and indoor facilities that can increase the risk of infection spreading among passengers.

Previous outbreaks involving the Andes strain in parts of Argentina and Chile have shown that human-to-human transmission can occur, although usually after prolonged close contact.

Symptoms of hantavirus often begin with fever, fatigue, headaches and muscle aches before progressing in severe cases to breathing difficulties and serious lung complications.

Authorities across several countries are now monitoring passengers and close contacts as part of efforts to prevent further spread while reassuring the public that the overall risk remains low.

Donald Trump has announced a pause in a planned U.S. military operation aimed at escorting stranded commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, just 50 hours after unveiling the initiative.

The operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” had been introduced on Sunday as a response to escalating tensions with Iran, which has effectively restricted access to the vital waterway amid its conflict involving Israel.

The strait is one of the world’s most critical transit routes, carrying roughly 20% of global oil and gas supplies. Iran’s threats to vessels navigating the passage have driven sharp increases in oil prices and raised concerns about broader economic disruption.

However, in a post on Truth Social, Trump said the mission would be put on hold “for a short period of time,” without providing detailed reasoning for the sudden shift.

The decision came shortly after senior administration officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, had publicly reinforced the plan, describing it as a demonstration of U.S. leadership and stability in safeguarding global commerce.

Reports from U.S. media outlets suggested that a potential diplomatic framework with Iran may be emerging, raising hopes that a negotiated solution could ease tensions and reopen the strait without military intervention.

Despite that, Trump signalled caution about the prospects of a deal, warning that any agreement remains uncertain.

In his latest comments, he said that assuming Iranian cooperation was “a big assumption,” adding that failure to reach a deal could lead to renewed military action at a level “much higher and intensity” than earlier operations, including Operation Epic Fury.

The abrupt pause has left the situation largely unchanged on the ground. More than 1,000 vessels remain stranded in the Gulf region, with crews still awaiting safe passage.

An explosion at a fireworks factory in southern China has killed 26 people and injured 61 others, according to state media, in one of the deadliest industrial accidents in the region in recent years.

The blast occurred on Monday afternoon at the Huasheng Fireworks plant in Liuyang, a major hub for China’s fireworks industry. Authorities launched a large-scale emergency response, deploying more than 1,500 rescue personnel along with dogs, drones and robotic equipment.

Rescue operations have now concluded, with seven people successfully pulled from the debris. Officials had earlier evacuated residents within a 3km (1.9 mile) radius of the site due to safety concerns.

According to state broadcaster China Central Television, two gunpowder warehouses within the factory posed a significant risk during the rescue effort, prompting additional precautions. Emergency teams reportedly humidified the area to reduce the chance of secondary explosions.

The force of the blast caused extensive damage, shattering windows in nearby residential buildings and scattering debris across the surrounding area. Injured victims, ranging in age from their 20s to 60s, suffered a variety of wounds, including fractures caused by flying debris.

Authorities have begun an investigation into the cause of the explosion. Police have taken “control measures” against individuals responsible for managing the fireworks company, though further details have not been disclosed.

Xi Jinping has called for full efforts to locate any remaining victims and treat the injured, while also ordering a thorough investigation to ensure accountability.

Local officials said environmental monitoring of air and water quality around the site is ongoing, with initial assessments indicating that conditions remain within normal safety levels.