An ecological "superspreader" event may be imminent as more than 1,500 ships continue to idle in the closed Strait of Hormuz, with the potential to cause serious impacts for human health and global marine ecosystems, scientists warn. The problem is that once these ships start moving again, these organisms will be spread all around the world. In addition to outcompeting native species for space and resources, invasive species can spread disease. Parasites and diseases introduced by ships could then spill over to native species, which could affect ecologically and/or commercially valuable species, or possibly pose concerns for human health, Blakeslee added. According to the researchers, cleaning ships in the water before they leave the Gulf region could significantly reduce the spread of these organisms.