The public is at low risk for hantavirus exposure even though six state residents are being monitored after last month's outbreak on a cruise ship.

The big picture: The Andes strain is the only known type of hantavirus that spreads person-to-person.

• Transmission is rare and typically requires prolonged close contact. But infections are serious, with a fatality rate of up to 50% in the Americas, according to the World Health Organization.

The latest: All six residents — including four from King County — were asymptomatic as of yesterday, per the Washington Department of Health (DOH). Health officials say symptoms can take up to six weeks to appear after exposure.

Catch up quick: The outbreak is tied to the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which departed Argentina last month and arrived at Spain's Canary Islands after passengers began falling ill.

• At least three European passengers died and multiple others were infected with the Andes strain, according to international health officials.
• Some passengers later boarded commercial flights home before the outbreak had been identified or reported, said Sharon Bogan with Public Health – Seattle & King County.

Zoom in: One King County resident who was on the ship is being monitored at the national quarantine center in Nebraska, a process that'll last roughly 42 days from disembarkment.

• Three others were on a Johannesburg-to-Amsterdam flight carrying an ill ship passenger who was removed before takeoff, according to Bogan. They're expected to be monitored through June 6.
• The two other residents under monitoring live in Eastern Washington.

Reality check: You might've seen reports about a hantavirus case in Chelan County. That's unrelated to the cruise ship. The resident has a different strain and is not being monitored because that strain is not spread person-to-person.

Zoom out: The CDC is monitoring 41 people across the U.S. for possible Andes strain exposure from the cruise ship.

What's next: WHO officials are urging cross-border collaboration to trace and contain the spread. They warn that with the virus's weeks-long incubation period, more cases are possible.

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The "Seattle Freeze" may be going national with Americans spending more time at home — and talking less to their neighbors.

Why it matters: Without casual conversations, people risk becoming more isolated, lonely and dependent on superficial, algorithm-driven digital communities.

By the numbers: In 2012, 51% of young Americans regularly engaged with neighbors, according to a new report from the American Enterprise Institute. Today, that number has plummeted to 25%.

• Among Americans in general, the percentage dropped from 59% to 41%, per the report.

What they're saying: Technology deserves some of the blame, says Daniel Cox, head report researcher and director of the Survey Center on American Life at AEI.

• "In the previous generation, if you sat around your apartment long enough, you started to go stir crazy, and that would often compel people to go out," he told Axios.
• Now homes have become entertainment bunkers that let Americans stream, scroll, get directions, and find recommendations without knocking on a neighbor's door.

🗣️ We want to hear from you: Do you actually know your neighbors or do you avoid them? Have you made friends with anyone in your building or on your block? Is the Seattle Freeze real — or overblown?

• Hit reply or email us.
• We may use your response in an upcoming edition of the newsletter.

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A Bellevue man was charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of UW student Juniper Blessing, a transgender woman found dead in her Seattle apartment building on May 10.

• Prosecutors said investigators haven't found evidence so far that the killing was motivated by hate, though the investigation is ongoing. (KUOW)

🏢 AI company Anthropic is reportedly looking to lease additional office space in South Lake Union. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

🦜 A Ballard-area heron colony has more active nests this year, signaling a boost for local urban wildlife. (My Ballard)

I'm an aging dinosaur when it comes to coffee. I typically would prefer a dark roasted espresso over a fruity pour over — but Gloom in Pioneer Square has me rethinking all of that.

Zoom in: The roaster opened in the old Elm Coffee Roasters space late last month — and, contrary to its name, the new cafe is full of color and personality.

The Kenyan pour over I got there may have finally sold me on this form of drip coffee that I have often dismissed as too slow, too acidic or too expensive.

The vibe: Gloom isn't gloomy at all. It's run by a friendly team that fills the place with pleasant conversation — enough to set an affable mood without being a distraction.

• I've been missing this kind of place in my life, as sleek marble-top spaceship cafes (that's a technical term) have dominated the scene in recent years.
• Gloom also serves pastries from The French Guys — which means an airy crumb and decadent fillings, packaged in croissants nearly as big as your head.

If you go: The pour overs at Gloom are incredibly well-balanced, but they're not cheap, typically ranging from $8-$12.

• If you stay to enjoy one, you usually get close to two cups of coffee from each, with the barista giving you the excess in a small glass carafe.

What's next: Gloom plans to roll out a menu of nonalcoholic cocktails in the near future.

Tell a coffee lover

Melissa here. My kids and I recently checked out the Woodland Park Zoo's new Forest Trailhead exhibit, which is home to tree kangaroos and red pandas.

The canopy walk through the treetops scared one of my kids a bit (he's not fond of heights), but there are plenty of other opportunities to get close to the animals, including from inside the exhibit's brand new pavilion.

🐢 My kids had fun locating a turtle hiding in one display on the bottom floor — although that's just a fraction of what the new exhibit offers.