By Kashmira Konduparty
On May 4, Jake Rosmarin, an American travel blogger shared distress the passengers of MV Hondius are currently facing due to an unexpected outbreak of Hantavirus on the luxury cruise.
The suspected outbreak has killed three people, including a Dutch couple and a German national which has left the rest of the passengers in a state of panic and uncertainty.
“We’re not just headlines, we’re people… with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home,” shares Rosmarin through a video on Instagram. “All we want right now is to feel safe, to have clarity and to get home,” he said.
The cruise had departed from Ushuaia, Argentina on March 20 for a long voyage across South Atlantic carrying 150 passengers and crew. The cruise is currently anchored at Cape Verde where permission for the passengers to disembark was denied due to public health concerns.
READ: Scientists uncover 230 giant hidden oceanic viruses that defy known potential so far (
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread primarily by rodents like mice or rats, that can cause severe respiratory or kidney illnesses in humans.
Humans are infected when virus particles are stirred up into the air and inhaled, particularly in closed areas infested by rodents. This could be of two types: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) which is mostly found in Americas, and damages the lungs and the heart, or Hemorrhagic Fever with Renel Syndrome (HFRS) which is found in Europe and Asia and affects the kidneys of a human.
The early symptoms of the virus include fever, chills, fatigue, muscle aches and nausea often resemble that of a flu.
Authorities are investigating the source of the infection, whether it was onboard or was contracted during land stops in South America. Health teams have also been sent to carry out onboard medical assessments, while officials work with multiple countries to coordinate possible evacuations.
The cruise operator said that the cause of the outbreak has not yet been confirmed and remains under investigation. Currently, international health agencies are conducting laboratory testing and tracing close contacts.
The World Health Organization said the overall risk to the public is low, but also stressed the need for close monitoring and containment efforts.
Rosmarin shared a new Instagram video clip on May 5, sharing that they are “trying to hold onto a bit of might right now” and that their priority is to making sure the people affected are receiving medical help and getting a place where everyone can safely disembark.
He mentioned in the caption that “everyone onboard is doing okay, and the focus continues to be on keeping everyone safe and informed.” He also recognized Oceanwide Expeditions and the crew for taking care of the passengers and thanked the people on the internet for the “love and support.”
As uncertainty continues to surround the outbreak, passengers and authorities alike remain focused on containment, care and a safe resolution to the crisis.