Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. All News Sport Culture Lifestyle Spanish health ministry provides update on cruise ship hit by hantavirus A peer-reviewed study revealed that hantavirus genetic material persisted in a 55-year-old man's semen for 71 months (nearly six years) after his initial infection. This finding, from scientists at Switzerland’s Spiez Laboratory, suggests the male reproductive tract may act as a reservoir for the virus, indicating a potential for sexual transmission years after initial infection. Hantavirus typically spreads through rodent exposure and can cause a severe illness with a high fatality rate, making its long-term persistence a significant public health concern. Experts are now advocating for the World Health Organisation (WHO) to revise its guidance, recommending extensive safe-sex advice for male patients, akin to protocols for Ebola survivors.…