A man on board the stricken MV Hondius cruise ship has posted an emotional video online about his experience.
Three people have died following a suspected outbreak of hantavirus onboard the Dutch-flagged vessel and two of the ship’s crew are ill.
Boston-based travel blogger Jake Rosmarin said conditions aboard the Hondius are uncertain and emotional, saying that passengers are focused on safety, medical care for those affected, and finding a way to return home.
The Hondius, which is operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, is currently just off the coast of Cape Verde and as of Monday, May 4, has not been permitted to dock because of concerns about risk to the local population. It has 149 people onboard from 23 countries, including 17 U.S. nationals.
Newsweek has contacted Rosmarin and Oceanwide Expeditions for comment via email.
‘Not Just a Story’
Rosmarin said in a video posted on Instagram recorded in his cabin that he was on board the Hondius and that what was happening was “very real” for its passengers. He said that those affected were “not just a story” or “just headlines,” but “people with families, people with lives, with people waiting for us at home.”
“There’s a lot of uncertainty and that’s the hardest part,” he added. “All we want right now is to feel safe, to have clarity, and to get home. So if you’re seeing coverage about this, just remember there are real people behind it, and that this isn’t something happening somewhere far away. It’s happening to us right now.”
In a second written statement posted on Monday, Rosmarin said he was “trying to hold onto a bit of light right now.”
“The priority is making sure those who are sick receive the care they need, as well as getting to a place where we can safely disembark and access medical support,” he added. “Everyone onboard is doing OK, and the focus continues to be on keeping everyone safe and informed.”
“I also want to recognize that Oceanwide Expeditions and the entire crew have been handling a very difficult situation with care, and I’m really grateful for everything they’re doing,” Rosmarin continued “There’s still some uncertainty, but it’s reassuring to know there is a plan in place. For now, just taking things one step at a time, we will be OK.”
Timeline
Oceanwide Expeditions said that a Dutch passenger died on board the Hondius on April 11 and that the cause of death could not be determined at the time. The company said the individual was disembarked in St. Helena on April 24, with his wife.
It was informed on April 27 that the man’s wife, also a Dutch national, had also become unwell and later died. It said it had not been confirmed whether the deaths were connected to the current medical situation on board.
Oceanwide Expeditions said that on the same date another passenger became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa. The company said the British national was being treated in an intensive care unit in Johannesburg and was in a critical but stable condition.
The company said that on May 2 a further passenger, a German national, died on board, adding that the cause of death had not yet been established. The identities of the three deceased have not been released.
Oceanwide Expeditions said there were currently two crew members on board with acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe, both of whom required urgent medical care. It added that the crew members were of British and Dutch nationality and that no other symptomatic individuals had been identified.
The company said that hantavirus had not been confirmed in the two crew members requiring treatment, and that it had not been definitively established if the virus was linked to any of the three deaths associated with the voyage. It added that investigations into the exact cause and any possible connection were ongoing. As of May 4, Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed one case of hantavirus in the man currently receiving treatment in Johannesburg. The Associated Press and the BBC have reported the Dutch woman who died as also having tested positive for hantavirus.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus infection refers to a group of viruses that can cause serious illness and sometimes death in humans.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these viruses are mainly spread by rodents, with people becoming infected through contact with their urine, droppings, or saliva, often by breathing in contaminated air. The CDC reports that most hantaviruses are not spread from person to person.
Hantaviruses can lead to two main types of disease: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which affects the lungs and can cause breathing difficulties, and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, which affects the kidneys.
Symptoms typically begin with fever, fatigue and muscle aches, and can progress to more severe issues such as shortness of breath or kidney problems.
Are you on board the MV Hondius or do you know someone who is? Email a.higham@newsweek.com.
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