Quest for a rare bird, a landfill visit, a deadly outbreak: How Leo Schilperoord became hantavirus 'patient zero'
TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 12, 2026, 09:14 (IST)
A Dutch ornithologist, Leo Schilperoord, has been identified as patient zero in a deadly hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship. Authorities suspect he and his wife contracted the virus from rat droppings during a birdwatching trip in Argentina. The outbreak led to multiple deaths and a global health alert.