The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have released updated findings regarding a recent hantavirus outbreak. While federal health officials are actively managing the situation, they emphasize that the overall threat to the general American public remains extremely low. Key Facts About the Outbreak The Source: The outbreak originated aboard the MV Hondius , a polar expedition cruise ship that departed from Argentina. The World Health Organization (WHO) has tracked 11 cases—including 9 confirmed—and 3 deaths globally. U.S. Impact: Out of 17 American passengers repatriated to specialized containment facilities in Nebraska and Georgia, one American passenger has tested positive for the virus. The individual was reported as asymptomatic upon arrival. The Strain: Laboratory testing confirmed the outbreak is caused by the Andes virus strain of hantavirus. Person-to-Person Transmission: Unlike typical U.S. hantavi...
The FBI has turned up the heat on a decade-long national security case. A $200,000 reward has been officially announced for information leading to the capture and prosecution of Monica Elfriede Witt , a former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist who defected to Iran and allegedly turned on her country. Witt has been on the run since her defection over a decade ago. By renewing their push and putting a massive bounty on her head, federal authorities are sending a clear message: the U.S. government does not forget a betrayal. Key Facts You Need to Know The Bounty: The FBI Washington Field Office is offering up to $200,000 for tips leading directly to Witt's arrest and conviction. The Background: Witt served in the U.S. Air Force from 1997 to 2008 as an intelligence specialist and later worked as a defense contractor until 2010. She was trained in Farsi and deployed on highly classified missions in the Middle East. The Defection: She officially defected to Iran i...