Hantavirus: Rafik Boujdaria calls for vigilance without panic
via Business News4 min read
Physician Rafik Boujdaria addressed public concerns regarding the hantavirus, stating it is an ancient and known virus, unlike the novel Covid-19. The current alert stems from several deaths on a cruise ship traveling from southern Argentina to Cape Verde, with multiple passengers infected and fatalities reported among travelers from a dozen countries. Boujdaria confirmed no Tunisian nationals are among the affected passengers and that no direct threat currently exists for Tunisia. The hantavirus family has been identified since the 1930s, with the specific strain known since the 1950s, named after a region between the two Koreas where it was studied during the Korean War. The virus primarily circulates in North America, South America, and parts of Asia, with rodents like wild rats and mice as main vectors. Transmission to humans typically occurs through inhaling contaminated particles from animal excrement or secretions. While human-to-human transmission is rare, a specific variant called "Andes" can transmit between people, which explains current concerns surrounding the monitored ship. Initial symptoms can resemble classic flu, but the virus can lead to severe complications. In America, some forms cause acute respiratory syndrome with a mortality rate of up to 38% in severe cases. Asian variants can cause hemorrhagic syndromes and severe kidney damage. Boujdaria emphasized that most infections do not result in critical forms. He assured that cruise ships arriving in Tunisi
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Abir Moussi, president of the Free Destourian Party PDL, released a letter on Thursday, May 8, 2026, from detention, addressing Tunisians about her judicial situation and what she perceives as a deviation affecting several state institutions. Moussi, an attorney and political opponent, claims the prison administration has so far refused to deduct the period of her pre-trial detention, which began on October 3, 2023, from her sentence. She states that the ten-year sentence in the "reception desk" case has not yet begun to be counted by the prison administration. Moussi asserts she was informed that all her convictions would conclude in 2036, despite the months already spent in pre-trial detention. She views this as a violation of Article 15 of the Penal Code, which mandates the deduction of pre-trial detention from the final sentence, unless explicitly decided otherwise by the court. The PDL leader also claims no official document, written decision, or legal basis has been provided to justify the non-inclusion of her detention since October 2023. She believes her situation transcends a simple judicial dispute and is part of a "political persecution" aimed at permanently depriving her of political and civic rights. Moussi intends to continue her fight through "institutional channels," including appeals, official correspondence, and complaints to various state institutions. She has contacted the Parliament presidency, the Provisional Superior Council of the Judiciary, and the In
Journalist Zied El-Heni announced on Friday, May 8, 2026, from Mornaguia prison, his refusal to appeal the one-year prison sentence against him, stating he does not recognize the legitimacy of the trial that led to the verdict. In a message from his cell, El-Heni claims he has been arbitrarily and illegally detained since his arrest on April 24, 2025. He asserts he is only willing to be tried under Decree-Law 115 of 2011, which pertains to press freedom and which he considers the sole applicable legal basis for his case. El-Heni highlighted his role in drafting Decree-Law 115 for the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists, emphasizing its importance in protecting press and expression freedom. He views his current situation as a battle to prevent the dismantling of this law. The journalist also accused the political establishment of instigating the charges against him, alleging that investigations by the National Guard confirmed political instructions, for which he holds President Kaïs Saïed responsible. El-Heni also revisited the case of Commander Abdelaziz Nebhani, a former anti-terrorism brigade member of the National Guard who died in detention before his innocence was recognized. El-Heni described this as a "state crime" involving "political-judicial complicity" and urged the Tunisian League for Human Rights to support the cause to rehabilitate Nebhani's memory and assist his family. He believes his trial has brought this case back into focus, illustrating the abuses
Must ReadTunisian swimmer Habiba Belghith secured her third gold medal at the African Swimming Championships in Oran, Algeria, on Friday, May 8, 2026. She won the 50-meter breaststroke, completing an impressive continental hat-trick after previously dominating the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke events. The Tunisian Swimming Federation celebrated her achievement, hailing her as the "queen of African swimming" for her dominant performance across the three main breaststroke distances. Belghith's success has positioned Tunisia at the forefront of continental swimming and highlights the emergence of a new generation of high-level competitors. Her consistent performance and impressive dynamic have established her as a prominent figure in both Tunisian and African swimming.
Must ReadThe International Monetary Fund IMF has issued a serious warning that artificial intelligence AI could be the catalyst for the next major global financial crisis. In a note published on May 7, 2026, and through various statements in Washington, the IMF highlighted the exponential increase in risks posed by AI-powered cyberattacks. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva stated that the international community currently lacks the collective means to protect the global monetary system from such massive attacks, urging central banks to cooperate urgently. The IMF is particularly concerned about the collapse of technical barriers that previously limited sophisticated cyberattacks. Powerful AI tools could soon enable less skilled actors or criminal groups to launch offensives capable of destabilizing entire financial infrastructures. One specific concern is "Claude Mythos Preview," an AI model developed by Anthropic, which is reportedly capable of detecting and exploiting IT vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed and scale. Its performance has caused a shockwave in cybersecurity circles and among high-level American financial authorities, leading to a crisis meeting in Washington. The IMF fears that a localized attack could become systemic because the global financial system relies on extreme technological concentration, including shared cloud providers, software infrastructures, digital platforms, and potentially AI models. A single vulnerability could simultaneously compromis