Experts Race To Write Guidance To Contain First Ship-Borne Hantavirus Outbreak

As the cruise ship hit ​by a hantavirus outbreak sails towards Tenerife, World Health Organization officials are racing to draw up step-by-step guidance for what should happen ‌next for the nearly 150 passengers when they finally reach land on Sunday.

MV Hondius, a Netherlands-registered specialist cruise vessel

The hantavirus outbreak – which has killed three people among at least eight suspected or confirmed infections - is the first ever recorded on a cruise ship, so some new protocols are needed.

Half a dozen current and former WHO officials and hantavirus experts said the outbreak could be managed by adapting ​standard public health steps, like isolating sick passengers or those who may have been in contact with them. None of the passengers ​on the ship now have symptoms, the ship's operator has said.

TIPS FROM ARGENTINA

Officials are also seeking tips from Argentina, where ⁠a previous outbreak of the Andes virus, the same strain as on the ship, was snuffed out in 2019. “If we follow public health measures and ​the lessons we learned from Argentina ... we can break this chain of transmission. This doesn't need to be a large epidemic,” Abdi Rahman Mahamud, director ​of the WHO's alert and response coordination department, said.

He said the focus was on isolation for sick people, and monitoring and quarantining for other passengers, subject to national government decisions.

The WHO may also recommend that some people with links to the outbreak take their temperature daily for at least 42 days as the Andes strain has a long incubation ​period, Anais Legand, WHO technical officer for viral threats, said at an online briefing on Friday.

National authorities may also be asked to set up regular ​contact with those people, and give them a phone number to call if they feel at all unwell, she added.

Passengers are being split into high-risk and low-risk contacts ‌based on ⁠their interactions with sick travellers, the WHO said. Contact-tracing is also key for any who have left the ship already.

The Andes hantavirus is known to spread through close and prolonged contact, and chiefly when a patient is already symptomatic. That information is based largely on the one outbreak where the Andes virus spread between people in Argentina in 2018-19, in which 34 people were infected and 11 died.

“We essentially learned that once you implement basic measures of social ​distancing, that are essentially very simple – ​stay home when you are not ⁠feeling well – that diminished the circulation and the outbreak burned out,” said Gustavo Palacios, a professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in the United States, who is originally from Argentina and a co-author of a ​key paper on that outbreak.

He and others have been advising WHO on the outbreak since May 2, he ​said, adding he hoped ⁠more attention would now be paid to the risks of hantaviruses, which can have fatality rates of up to 50%.

SOME PLANS IN PLACE

Some governments are already making plans: the UK government said on Friday morning it would repatriate its citizens on a flight under strict infection-control measures, and then passengers would be asked to isolate for ⁠45 days, ​with testing as required.

Krutika Kuppalli, associate professor of medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern ​Medical Center in the U.S., who formerly worked on mpox protocols at the WHO, said measures could be taken from previous outbreaks.

“It’s the same principle as for measles, or Ebola. Contact tracing ​doesn’t change,” she said.

The WHO said late on Thursday it was still finalizing guidelines.

Reporting by Jennifer Rigby; additional reporting by Sriparna Roy; Editing by Andrew Heavens

Philadelphia’s Weitzman Museum Tells The Forgotten Story Of Caribbean Jews Who Supplied The American Revolution

“The First Salute” pulls artifacts from Sint Eustatius to tell the “hidden” story of the colonies’ crucial island allies.

The governor of Sint Eustatius, a tiny Caribbean island about 100 miles east of Puerto Rico, came to Philadelphia to inaugurate a semiquincentennial exhibition that shows how the island played a critical role in the American Revolution.

Gov. Alida Frances said a person can stand at one point on St. Eustatius and see the ocean in every direction.

“We, as a small island, always felt that our story was hidden,” she said. “But we did everything ourselves to keep the story alive. When we tell people of the world that we played this important role in American history, especially in the independence of America, it seems farfetched to most people.”

“The First Salute” at the Weitzman Museum of American Jewish History pulled about 100 objects and manuscripts, many directly from St. Eustatius and its neighboring islands, which tell the story of smuggling, trade, weapons and international networking that was crucial to supply the War of Independence.

St. Eustatius, or Statia as it is known on the island, was and still is a territory of The Netherlands. The first ships of the newly minted U.S. Navy arrived in the island port in 1776 to pick up supplies, including critically needed gunpowder, just a few months after the Declaration of Independence was signed.

The island greeted the incoming navy ships with a 13-cannon salute, representing the 13 colonies. It was the first foreign entity to officially recognize the sovereignty of the United States.

The first artifact seen in “The First Salute” is a thoroughly rusted 18th-century cannon from St. Eustatius. Its provenance is murky, but the cannon may have been one of those fired in the titular salute.

“I don’t know if a cannon from St. Eustatius has ever been exhibited in the United States,” curator Josh Perelman said.

The ‘First Salute’ is a Jewish story

In 1777, St. Eustatius, like many Caribbean islands, had large Jewish populations. Many Jews fleeing European countries, particularly antisemitic oppression in Spain, Portugal and Eastern European countries, migrated to more favorable countries, such as Holland.

Many continued onto Caribbean territories to take advantage of trading opportunities. Positioned along favorable Atlantic trade winds between Europe and Africa and the Americas, the Caribbean islands were essential and lucrative shipping ports.

St. Eustatius became a strategic military position for shipping military support from European allies to the American revolutionary effort, including weapons and gunpowder.

“There have been books written about St. Eustatius and its role in the Revolution,” said Laura Arnold Leibman, professor of American Jewish Studies at Princeton University, who consulted on the Weitzman exhibition.

“Those books, weirdly, have not told much about Jews,” she said, “which we think was a huge missed opportunity.”

In the late 18th century, St. Eustatius had a population of about a tenth of Philadelphia’s, but its Jewish population was larger than that of any North American city. In all of the colonies, there were only two established synagogues — in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island.

“Many people don’t know, but before 1825 the largest Jewish communities in the Americas were all in the Caribbean,” Leibman said. “St. Eustatius, a relatively small island geographically, had about twice the Jewish population of either Philadelphia or New York at the time.”

American Jews were not unanimous in their support of the American Revolution. One of Leibman’s favorite objects in the exhibition is a piece of needlework by a 15-year-old Jewish girl in New York, Rebecca Hendricks, depicting the 10 Commandments. Leibman said Hendrix’s father signed a loyalty oath to King George III, seen right next to the sampler.

“This is a good example of us trying to make sure we are not just saying ‘Rah! Rah! Rah! Patriots!’ all the time,” she said. “Jews, like every other group of people, were on both sides of the conflict.”

The downfall of the Jews on St. Eustatius

Regardless of which side of the War of Independence they aligned on, Jews on St. Eustatius ultimately suffered. Many were financially wiped out by the war.

The British Admiral George Rodney captured the island in 1781 to suffocate American supply lines. There, he discovered the merchants of St. Eustatius were fabulously wealthy. Targeting the Jews in particular, Rodney systematically plundered anything and everything of value on the island for his personal benefit.

“They were robbed blind,” Francis said. “Their ships were intercepted, robbed of all of the cargo that they brought in for trade. Their shops were robbed. They were exiled. Gradually, they started to move away from the island because they felt no longer safe. The whole economy of the islands went downhill.”

Frances said there is no longer a Jewish community on St. Eustatius. Nevertheless, the residents have preserved the island’s Jewish legacy. The walls of the original synagogue, now in ruins, still stand. Artifacts such as Dutch Delft plateware and sundry Judaica objects have been preserved.

“We know that it was there at the time of The First Salute, at the time of the Revolution,” Perelman said. “It’s incredible to have it here in Philadelphia and to give visitors the opportunity to see this remarkable object that is humble but tells such a massive story.”

“The First Salute” will be on view at the Weitzman Museum of American Jewish History through April 2027.

https://whyy.org/person/peter-crimmins/ “The First Salute” includes a Hanukkah oil lamp, believed to be the only 18th-century object of Jewish ritual from St. Eustatius to survive.

American Express Platinum Lounge Access Update: Lufthansa Partnership Changes

The landscape for premium travel perks continues to shift. For American Express Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders, a significant update has arrived regarding access to Lufthansa Lounges.

What’s Changing?

For the past few years, one of the "secret" weapons of the Amex Platinum card was the ability to access Lufthansa’s business and senator lounges when flying with the Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines). However, American Express has officially announced a reduction in this specific lounge benefit.

While the partnership isn't dissolving entirely, the access criteria have tightened:

Restricted Locations: Access is being phased out at several secondary hub airports, focusing the benefit exclusively on major international gateways like Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC).

Fare Class Requirements: Previously, some flexibility existed for various economy fares. Moving forward, cardholders must be on a confirmed qualifying international itinerary with more stringent "Basic" fare exclusions.

Guest Policy Tightening: Similar to the Centurion Lounge changes, complimentary guest access for Lufthansa lounges is being removed for standard Platinum members unless a specific annual spend threshold is met.

Why the Change?

This move follows a broader trend in the credit card industry: crowd control. With the surge in premium card memberships over the last few years, lounges have reached capacity limits. By narrowing access, Amex and Lufthansa aim to:

Prioritize Business Class Passengers: Ensuring those who paid for premium seats have space.

Reduce Overcrowding: Maintaining the "luxury" feel of the lounge experience.

Encourage Spend: Pushing users toward the $75,000+ annual spend mark to unlock guest privileges.

How to Check Your Access

Before you head to the terminal, don't rely on old habits. Use these tools to verify your entry:

Amex App: Check the "Find a Lounge" tool within the American Express mobile app.

Lufthansa Website: Cross-reference your flight's fare class with their current partner access list.

Better Alternatives for Cardholders

If you find yourself locked out of the Lufthansa lounge, remember your Platinum card still offers:

The Centurion Lounge Network: Still the gold standard for Amex-owned spaces.

Delta SkyClubs: (When flying Delta).

Priority Pass Select: Access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide (though often crowded).

Pro Tip: If you frequently fly through Germany, consider checking if your specific flight allows for a "buy-up" to lounge access at a discounted rate via the Lufthansa app—sometimes the peace and quiet are worth the small fee if your card no longer covers it.

How Breeze And Rivals Are Claiming The "Yellow Plane" Routes

The sudden grounding of Spirit Airlines on May 2, 2026, left a massive hole in the U.S. ultra-low-cost travel market. However, the aviation industry moves fast. Within hours of the shutdown, competitors—led by Breeze Airways, JetBlue, and Frontier—began a strategic land grab to ensure travelers aren't left stranded and that popular leisure routes don't stay empty for long.

Here is how the industry is pivoting to fill the gap.

1. Breeze Airways: The New King of Atlantic City

Perhaps no airport felt the Spirit shutdown more than Atlantic City International (ACY), where Spirit was the dominant carrier. Breeze Airways moved almost instantly to absorb this traffic, announcing a massive expansion at ACY just hours after Spirit’s exit.

New Nonstop Routes: Breeze is launching four critical routes from Atlantic City to fill the void: Orlando (MCO), Myrtle Beach (MYR), Fort Myers (RSW), and West Palm Beach (PBI).

Rapid Rollout: Service to Orlando begins daily on July 3, with the other three destinations launching in October and December.

Introductory Fares: To lure former Spirit loyalists, Breeze offered "wallet-friendly" introductory fares starting as low as $49 one-way.

2. JetBlue: Taking Over the Fort Lauderdale Hub

Spirit’s primary hub was Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL). JetBlue has wasted no time in positioning itself as the new anchor for South Florida travelers.

11 New Nonstop Routes: JetBlue announced it will add 11 nonstop routes from FLL to cities previously served by Spirit. This expansion marks JetBlue’s return to markets like Charlotte, North Carolina, where it had previously ceased operations.

Record Growth: By this summer, JetBlue expects to operate nearly 130 daily departures from Fort Lauderdale—the largest operation in the airline's history at that airport.

Rescue Fares: JetBlue also implemented $99 rescue fares through the first week of May to help passengers whose Spirit tickets were suddenly invalidated.

3. Frontier Airlines: Capitalizing on the Overlap

As Spirit’s most direct "ultra-low-cost" competitor, Frontier Airlines is in a unique position to absorb the displaced passenger volume.

Route Overlap: Because Frontier already flew many of the same routes as Spirit, they are simply increasing the frequency of flights on existing paths rather than just launching new ones.

Market Share Surge: Investors have already signaled confidence in this move, with Frontier’s stock rising significantly as the airline prepares to capture the millions of leisure travelers who previously relied on Spirit's rock-bottom pricing.

4. International Expansion: St. Thomas and Cancun

The "filling of the void" isn't limited to the continental U.S. Carriers are also eyeing Spirit's former Caribbean and Mexican strongholds.

Tampa to St. Thomas: Breeze Airways recently announced its first-ever nonstop service from Tampa to St. Thomas (starting December 16), restoring low-cost capacity to the U.S. Virgin Islands that disappeared with Spirit.

Cancun Connections: Both Breeze (from Richmond and Tampa) and Southwest have accelerated their 2026 international schedules to pick up the high demand for Mexican vacation spots previously dominated by Spirit.

What This Means for You

While the loss of Spirit might mean less downward pressure on ticket prices in the long term, the immediate response from Breeze, JetBlue, and Frontier ensures that travelers still have options.If you were a frequent Spirit flyer, now is the time to explore Breeze’s "Nicest" and "Nicer" bundles or JetBlue’s expanded FLL schedule. The yellow planes may be gone, but the routes to your favorite vacation spots are being claimed faster than you can say "checked bag fee."

Travelore News: Lufthansa Launches New Premium Onboard Experience In Every Travel Class On All Long-Haul Flights

One airline, two years of development, three guiding principles, and four cabin classes – FOX (short for Future Onboard Experience), Lufthansa’s new long-haul service, launches on Wednesday, May 6th.

The new service concept represents one of the most significant investments in the airline’s premium onboard customer experience to date. With a strong focus on the guest, every aspect of the onboard service has been redesigned. The concept spans every travel class and applies across all long-haul flights and across every aircraft type, whether equipped with Allegris or not. The new First Class service was already launched at the end of March, with Business, Premium Economy, and Economy Class set to follow on May 6.

At its core, FOX focuses on three key areas: personalization, comfort, and Signature Moments. The new onboard service sets new standards for personalization. In all classes, guests enjoy more choices and greater flexibility. Numerous details create thoughtfully designed moments of well-being and a more comfortable travel experience throughout all classes. With Signature Moments, FOX sets distinctive accents on board that are not simply synonymous with a “better” product but are unmistakably Lufthansa.

Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines, said: “Lufthansa is celebrating its 100th anniversary. To mark this special occasion, we are redefining the service on board our long-haul flights. Our goal is clear: We want to be the number one premium airline in Europe. To achieve this, we are investing over 70 million euros, this year alone, in the new premium service across all classes for our guests. These enormous financial investments during challenging times demonstrate how sustainably and resolutely we are renewing and transforming Lufthansa. I thank the entire team for their tremendous efforts over the past two years, and I am proud of what our customers can enjoy on board with us.”

Business Class Highlights

In Business Class, the new premium service offers guests a particularly memorable experience with a focus on culinary. New menus by Johann Lafer, who has previously created dishes for Lufthansa on short-haul flights, will continue to treat passengers to the highest culinary quality and exciting combinations in the future.

The new breakfast menu allows guests to pre-select their morning meal the evening before, choosing from a varied menu ranging from smoothies to French toast and omelets.

FOX Business Class features completely new tableware. As a Lufthansa Signature Moment, a classic coffee and cake service will be offered on board. Also, a brand-new offering is “Sky Selection.” Guests can now order their second meal on long-haul flights whenever they like—from a wide selection including tapas bowls to currywurst to macarons.

Highlights of Premium Economy Class

For guests in Premium Economy, FOX is all about enhanced comfort. The entire first service has been significantly upgraded from a Business Class-level appetizer to a choice of three hot main courses, alongside fresh, warm bread. Guests can also enjoy pastries or a slice of cake alongside an expanded beverage selection featuring more frequent service, greater variety, and a new digestif service.

For an extra touch of comfort, travelers will now receive cozy slippers.

Highlights of Economy Class

FOX also offers numerous innovations for travelers in Economy Class. For the first time, Economy Class passengers will receive an amenity kit featuring a sleep mask and earplugs for an improved rest. Additional upgrades include new and modern tableware—across all classes, with new cutlery and trays, and a printed menu. The beverage selection is being significantly expanded. On flights longer than ten hours, passengers can choose from three hot main courses, as opposed to the previous two. Greater choice and personalization now define the Economy Class as well.

Fun facts about FOX

The launch of the new premium service at Lufthansa is a logistical achievement. Here are some facts and figures to prove it:

New tableware and cutlery: 187 million individual pieces must be replaced or introduced within a short time. The individual pieces have been flown to all our departure airports worldwide in recent weeks, so they are available there for return flights to Germany.

Incredible dimensions: Approximately 300,000 Business Class main course plates are being procured just to launch FOX.

Stacked, the plates would reach a height of 2,400 meters = 6.6 times the height of the Eiffel Tower.

The new service was tested on more than 110 test flights.

Over 9,000 guest feedback responses and over 500 different crew feedback responses were considered.

There were 28 menu presentations at 57 airports worldwide for employees in preparation for the rollout.

Pack Your Own Pretzels: Delta Cutting Service On Hundreds Of Short-Haul Flights

If you have a quick hop planned on a Delta flight later this month, you might want to grab a snack at the terminal before you board. Delta Air Lines has announced a major shift in its onboard service policy, eliminating complimentary food and beverage service on roughly 450 daily short-haul flights.

Starting May 19, 2026, the "Biscoff and coffee" ritual is disappearing for passengers on routes under 350 miles. Here is everything you need to know about the change and how it affects your next trip.

1. The New Distance Rule

Delta is moving away from its previous tiered "Express Service" model in favor of a strictly distance-based cutoff.

Flights 0–349 Miles: No beverage or snack service will be offered in the Main Cabin or Delta Comfort+.

Flights 350 Miles and Above: Passengers will receive full beverage and snack service (an upgrade for some routes that previously only had limited "Express" options).

The Exception: Delta First Class passengers are unaffected and will continue to receive full service on all routes, regardless of distance.

Note: Water is still available upon request for all passengers, even on the shortest flights, though it will not be proactively served via the cart.

2. Why the Change?

According to official statements from Delta, the move is designed to prioritize consistency and safety.

Operational Consistency: Previously, flights between 251 and 350 miles used an "Express Service" that often confused passengers and was difficult for flight attendants to execute uniformly.

Safety & Turbulence: On very short routes, the window for service is incredibly tight. By removing the carts, Delta minimizes the time flight attendants spend in the aisles, reducing the risk of injury during unexpected turbulence.

Rising Costs: Industry analysts also point to record-high fuel prices in 2026 as a primary driver for cost-cutting measures across the U.S. airline industry.

3. Major Affected Routes

Many of Delta's busiest "shuttle" and hub-connector routes fall under the new 350-mile threshold. If you are flying these city pairs after May 19, expect a quiet cabin:

New York (JFK/LGA) to Boston (BOS)

Atlanta (ATL) to Charlotte (CLT)

Los Angeles (LAX) to San Francisco (SFO)

Chicago (ORD) to Detroit (DTW)

Minneapolis (MSP) to Milwaukee (MKE)

4. How to Prepare

While the loss of a free soda might seem minor, it’s a significant shift for a carrier that has long marketed itself as a "premium" domestic airline.

Check the Delta App: You can search for your specific flight menu via the Delta website or app to see exactly what will be served.

Visit the Sky Club: If you have access, fill up on snacks and drinks before boarding.

Pre-order Options: On some mid-range flights, Delta is encouraging passengers to use the app to pre-order snack boxes at discounted rates ($5–$12).

This change brings Delta closer to the service models of competitors like United, which has a similar 300-mile service minimum. As the "frills" continue to shrink in economy, the value of that First Class upgrade just got a little bit higher.

Rare Declarations On Display At American Philosophical Society Museum In Philadelphia

Inside the American Philosophical Society's Museum, 19 rare copies of the Declaration of Independence from the nation's first 50 years are on public view.

The exhibition traces how the document evolved-from early newspaper printings to a politicized symbol and later a memorialized national treasure.

Alongside the Declarations are about 30 related objects, including a massive 18thcentury map of North America and items connected to Thomas Jefferson.

Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743, the APS houses one of the nation's oldest and most extensive scholarly collections.

Curator David Gary hopes the exhibit encourages visitors to read, reflect on, and thoughtfully discuss the Declaration today.

American Philosophical Society |

Museum at Philosophical Hall, 104 S 5th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106

By Wendy Daughenbaugh