Health
Health news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
HealthOne person in the U.S. tests positive for hantavirus after disembarking from affected cruise
A U.S. passenger aboard a cruise ship has tested positive for hantavirus, prompting health officials to take action. The individual was among 17 Americans evacuated from the MV Hondius, which docked in the Canary Islands. One passenger is asymptomatic, while another has mild symptoms. They were flown to Nebraska for evaluation at a specialized medical center. A French woman evacuated from the same cruise also tested positive and is in serious condition. The World Health Organization has advised close monitoring of all passengers, emphasizing that the general public should not panic, as the risk of transmission is low.
HealthKevin González Passes Away One Day After Reuniting with His Parents
Kevin González, an 18-year-old battling terminal cancer, passed away just one day after reuniting with his parents, who were released from immigration custody in the U.S. His aunt and brother confirmed his death to NBC Chicago/Telemundo Chicago on Sunday evening. Earlier in the week, a judge ordered the expedited release of Kevin's parents so they could meet him in Mexico. Kevin, a U.S. citizen from Chicago, was diagnosed with colon cancer that spread to his stomach and lungs. His parents had attempted to cross the border but were detained by ICE agents in Arizona. They were ultimately reunited in Durango, Mexico, after a public appeal for their release.
HealthPassengers Begin Disembarking from Cruise Affected by Hantavirus
Passengers began disembarking from the MV Hondius cruise ship on Sunday after a hantavirus outbreak was reported while the ship was anchored off Tenerife, Spain. Authorities confirmed that none of the over 140 individuals aboard showed symptoms of the virus. Evacuated passengers will be flown to Madrid for quarantine at a military hospital. The outbreak has resulted in three deaths and five confirmed infections. Passengers will leave behind their luggage, taking only essential items. Various countries, including the U.S. and the Netherlands, are coordinating evacuation flights for their citizens, while health officials monitor the situation closely.
HealthUS Prepares to Receive Several Americans Possibly Exposed to Hantavirus
The United States has entered emergency response mode as a cruise ship affected by a deadly hantavirus outbreak sails toward Tenerife—one of Spain's Canary Islands—where it will evacuate nearly 150 passengers on board, including at least 17 Americans. State and local health authorities in the US are monitoring at least eight passengers who disembarked on April 24 and returned home. For now, these individuals have not been advised to isolate, as they have not developed symptoms. Starting Sunday, global health authorities will assist in transporting passengers who remain on the ship—all of whom are currently asymptomatic—to their respective home countries. The passengers will be taken to an area in Tenerife that will be 'completely isolated and cordoned off'; they will then board escorted vehicles to be transported to a section of the local airport that will also be cordoned off, according to Virginia Barcones, head of emergency services in Spain, during a press conference on Thursday.
HealthTexas A & M AgriLife event to offer free well water screening in Weslaco
Texas A&M AgriLife will host a free event in Weslaco on June 23, 2026, to test well water and soil quality for residents of the Rio Grande Valley. This initiative aims to ensure the safety of well water, as many locals depend on private wells. Aaron Alanis, a rancher from Santa Rosa, shared his concerns about the quality of his well water, which he uses without treatment. Samantha Colunga from the Texas Water Resources Institute emphasized the importance of understanding water quality, as surface activities can impact groundwater. Residents are encouraged to participate in this screening event to assess their water and soil health.
Health“This is not another COVID”: WHO addresses Tenerife ahead of imminent arrival of cruise ship affected by Hantavirus
The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reassured the people of Tenerife, Spain, about the arrival of a cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak, stating, "This is not another COVID." He emphasized that the current public health risk from hantavirus remains low and that no passengers are showing symptoms. Tedros is traveling to the island to oversee the evacuation operation, which includes transporting passengers to a designated port in sealed vehicles, away from residential areas. He noted that the decision to request Spain's assistance was based on international health regulations.
HealthConsumer Reports: Ready to try digital minimalism?
A recent survey reveals that Americans check their phones nearly 200 times a day and spend over four hours daily on them, leading to feelings of addiction for nearly half of respondents. Consumer Reports warns that excessive screen time negatively impacts mental health, contributing to poor sleep, increased stress, and reduced attention spans. To combat this, experts suggest starting with small changes, such as taking short breaks from phones, limiting access to distracting apps, and muting nonessential notifications. Engaging in alternative activities like reading or exercising can also help reduce screen time and improve overall well-being.
HealthOn the cruise ship hit by hantavirus, some fear what awaits them at home
Passengers aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak, are concerned about their reception upon returning to Spain. Many fear being stigmatized as potential carriers of the virus, despite health officials emphasizing the low risk of transmission. The World Health Organization has clarified that hantavirus is not easily spread between people, contrasting it with COVID-19. Some Spanish politicians have expressed unease about the ship's arrival, while passengers maintain a calm routine on board, engaging in activities while adhering to safety measures. Disembarkation could begin as early as Sunday.
HealthNational Nurses Week: STHS Children's Hospital's Stephanie Flores
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Nurses Week runs through May 12, and ValleyCentral continues to highlight the men and women who have answered the call of healthcare. For new parents, there's nothing more comforting than knowing your child's health is in good hands. RELATED: School nurse’s dedication impacting generations of students At South Texas Health System's
HealthOver 100 Fall Ill After Norovirus Outbreak on Caribbean Cruise
More than 100 passengers and crew members fell ill with norovirus aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship that departed from Fort Lauderdale, according to a statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In total, 102 passengers and 13 crew members reported being sick on the Caribbean Princess, the CDC said. In response, the ship has reinforced cleaning and disinfection procedures, authorities indicated. The cruise left Port Everglades on April 29 and is scheduled to arrive in Port Canaveral on May 11. The cases represent approximately 3.3% of the 3,116 passengers and 1.2% of the crew on board, according to the CDC.
HealthWhat is Unknown About the Hantavirus Outbreak Following the Cruise Incident
Countries around the world are preparing to manage the situation involving 140 passengers and crew members aboard a cruise ship affected by hantavirus, which is heading to the Canary Islands. The vessel is expected to arrive at the Spanish island of Tenerife, off the coast of West Africa, in the early hours of Sunday. At least three passengers have died, and several others have been infected. Hantavirus is typically spread through inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings, with symptoms usually appearing between one and eight weeks after exposure. The World Health Organization states that the risk to the general public from the outbreak is low, but the Andes virus, implicated in the cruise outbreak, could potentially be transmitted between people in rare cases.
HealthHantavirus: What is it, how is it transmitted, and what are its symptoms? We explain.
You probably hadn't heard the word hantavirus until recently. This uncommon but potentially deadly disease has made headlines worldwide. A recent outbreak aboard a cruise ship resulted in three deaths, according to health authorities. Although it is rare in the United States, health officials are on alert due to its high mortality rate. Here’s everything you need to know about this dangerous virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
HealthHealth officials track dozens who left hantavirus-stricken ship after 1st fatality
Health officials are tracking passengers who left the MV Hondius cruise ship after a hantavirus outbreak resulted in three fatalities, including a Dutch couple and a German national. Over two dozen passengers disembarked on April 24, before the virus was confirmed on May 2. Investigators in Argentina are focusing on Ushuaia, where the Dutch couple may have contracted the virus during a bird-watching trip. The World Health Organization has stated that the risk to the general public is low, as hantavirus is primarily spread through contaminated rodent droppings. The ship is currently en route to the Canary Islands with over 140 passengers still aboard.
HealthTwo Texas Residents Identified as Passengers on MV Hondius
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has informed the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) that two Texas residents were aboard the MV Hondius, which recently had a hantavirus outbreak in the Atlantic Ocean. These passengers disembarked before the outbreak was recognized. Public health officials have contacted them, and both report no symptoms or contact with sick individuals during the voyage. They will monitor their health with daily temperature checks and will alert authorities if any symptoms arise. Hantaviruses are typically transmitted through rodent droppings, and the Andes virus strain can spread in limited circumstances between people.
HealthNational Nurses Week: Valley Baptist's Gilbert Salinas
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — National Nurses Week began on Wednesday, and ValleyCentral is taking time to honor those who work tirelessly to keep our community healthy. In the Valley Baptist emergency room, nurse Gilbert Salinas doesn't just see patients, but cares for them as if they were his own family. "When people give me a
HealthThe Incredible Details of the Fatal Surgery Where a Patient's Liver Was Removed Instead of His Spleen
During an eight-hour court statement, Florida surgeon Thomas Shaknovsky faced the same question repeatedly: Why did he remove a man's liver instead of his spleen? The disastrous surgical error that occurred in August 2024—and the subsequent death of Shaknovsky's patient, 70-year-old William Bryan, on the operating table—led Bryan's widow to file a lawsuit last year and a special jury to charge Shaknovsky with involuntary manslaughter last month. He has pleaded not guilty. What exactly went wrong during the scheduled splenectomy remains a mystery, especially since Shaknovsky has not publicly commented on the case.
HealthUSDA tightens SNAP retailer rules, requiring more nutritious food options
The USDA has announced new requirements for retailers that accept SNAP benefits, mandating stores stock a wider range of nutritious foods in an effort to improve access to healthier options.
HealthTwo Texas Residents Confirmed to Have Been on Cruise with Hantavirus Outbreak
HOUSTON, Texas – Health authorities in Texas confirmed that two residents of the state were aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, where a hantavirus outbreak was later detected while sailing in the Atlantic Ocean. In a statement sent to Telemundo Houston, the Texas Department of Health reported that the passengers had already left the vessel and returned to the United States before the outbreak was identified. Public health officials were able to contact both individuals, who reported not experiencing any symptoms and having had no contact with any sick passengers during the trip. As a precautionary measure, they agreed to monitor their health daily, including taking their temperature, and to report any signs of illness immediately. HOW IS HANTAVIRUS TRANSMITTED? Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of wild rodents. However, the variant detected in this outbreak, known as the Andes virus, can be transmitted between people under very specific circumstances. PUBLIC HEALTH CLARIFICATION Requires close and prolonged contact with an infected person. It is not transmitted through casual contact, such as shaking hands, nor by being briefly in the same space. There is no evidence of transmission from asymptomatic individuals. The DSHS reiterated that it will not disclose any additional personal information about the passengers to protect their privacy.
HealthWhat is the Andes virus? The hantavirus linked to outbreak on cruise is the deadliest strain
The strain of hantavirus that has caused the death of three people and has sickened five others on a cruise is the Andes strain, which is generally found in South America, including areas of Argentina, from where the luxury cruise MV Hondius set sail. This strain, which can lead to the most severe illness, is the only type known to be transmitted from person to person. As of Wednesday, eight cases had been reported; three have been confirmed as hantavirus through laboratory tests. Three people have died: a Dutch couple and another woman. One person is in intensive care in South Africa. Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease specialist at Stanford Medicine, stated that the death of the 69-year-old woman, who was on a plane just 24 hours before passing away on April 26, 'shows how quickly this disease can progress.'