The fan zones are open, the stadiums are ready and the biggest World Cup in history is officially underway in the US, Mexico and Canada. Seven matchs are planned in Houston, Texas. The host city expects to attract around half a million visitors and an economic windfall of $1.5 billion. Yet some hotels remain half empty and many fans complain that soaring ticket prices have made the tournament unaffordable. FRANCE 24's Pierrick Leurent and Wassim Cornet report.
The fan zones are open, the stadiums are ready and the biggest World Cup in history is officially underway in the US, Mexico and Canada. Seven matchs are planned in Houston, Texas. The host city expects to attract around half a million visitors and an economic windfall of $1.5 billion. Yet some hotels remain half empty and many fans complain that soaring ticket prices have made the tournament unaffordable. FRANCE 24's Pierrick Leurent and Wassim Cornet report.
An infectious disease specialist has called on Hong Kong authorities to step up rodent checks, despite confirmation that no residents from the city were on board the hantavirus-hit cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
A microscope image of Hantavirus. Photo: Cynthia Goldsmith, USCDCP.
Speaking on an RTHK programme on Friday, physician and infectious disease specialist Dr Joseph Tsang said the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) should conduct regular monitoring of rats
An infectious disease specialist has called on Hong Kong authorities to step up rodent checks, despite confirmation that no residents from the city were on board the hantavirus-hit cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
A microscope image of Hantavirus. Photo: Cynthia Goldsmith, USCDCP.
Speaking on an RTHK programme on Friday, physician and infectious disease specialist Dr Joseph Tsang said the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) should conduct regular monitoring of rats.
“The AFCD should conduct regular monitoring to test whether rats in the environment carry viruses,” he said.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) previously issued a statement on Thursday, saying there were no Hong Kong residents on the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship, which carried 147 passengers and crew members.
The CHP also said that, as of Wednesday, no infections had been reported in Hong Kong.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of Thursday, there were eight reported cases linked to the MV Hondius, including three deaths. Five of the eight cases have been confirmed as hantavirus.
‘Cannot let our guard down’
Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through direct contact with the faeces, saliva or urine of infected rodents, or by inhaling aerosolised particles of their waste, according to the CHP. Human-to-human transmission is relatively rare, and there is currently no vaccine to prevent infection.
A resident takes her rubbish to a refuse collection point, on May 31, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
The risk to global health posed by the cruise ship incident is low, the CHP added, citing the WHO.
Tsang said that, despite the low risk, he still urged cleaners to be aware of the dangers.
“I wouldn’t say the risk of infection in Hong Kong is especially high, but we cannot let our guard down,” the physician said.
“Hantavirus is usually concentrated in places with more rats, such as refuse collection points, rear stairwells, or the back alleys of restaurants. Sanitation workers should take particular care.”
Whatever else you want to say about Leah McSweeney, it can’t be denied that the Real Housewives of New York alum is persistent when it comes to her lawsuit against reality kingpin Andy Cohen, Bravo and its parent company NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Hoping to fight off a dismissal motion from Cohen and the […]
Whatever else you want to say about Leah McSweeney, it can’t be denied that the Real Housewives of New York alum is persistent when it comes to her lawsuit against reality kingpin Andy Cohen, Bravo and its parent company NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Hoping to fight off a dismissal motion from Cohen and the […]
Dernsie, Mike Mendez’s Bruce Dern documentary, received a six-minute standing ovation at its Cannes Film Festival premiere Wednesday night. The Cannes Classics film — full title: Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern — follows the eponymous actor as he looks back over his 65-year career, working with such greats as John Wayne, Elia Kazan, […]
Dernsie, Mike Mendez’s Bruce Dern documentary, received a six-minute standing ovation at its Cannes Film Festival premiere Wednesday night. The Cannes Classics film — full title: Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern — follows the eponymous actor as he looks back over his 65-year career, working with such greats as John Wayne, Elia Kazan, […]
For more than a quarter century, Documentary Campus has been supporting the global nonfiction filmmaking community through training programs, conferences, and Silbersalz, “the first international Science & Media festival of its kind.” Now the nonprofit is taking its mission even further. Doc Campus is partnering for the first time with Sunny Side of the Doc, […]
For more than a quarter century, Documentary Campus has been supporting the global nonfiction filmmaking community through training programs, conferences, and Silbersalz, “the first international Science & Media festival of its kind.” Now the nonprofit is taking its mission even further. Doc Campus is partnering for the first time with Sunny Side of the Doc, […]
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