Passenger Reassured as Medical Support Increases Aboard Cruise Ship
With additional doctors now aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship and those with suspected or confirmed cases of hantavirus evacuated, passenger Kasem Ibn Hattuta said he’s feeling reassured. The travel content creator shared a statement with the media, including USA TODAY, on May 7, expressing his relief. “The vibe on the ship might’ve been calm with a bit of concern because we were worried about the sick ones, but now it doesn’t feel different than any of the other sea days we had before,” he said. “Everyone is keeping high spirit, people are smiling and taking the situation calmly.”
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Some passengers are reportedly venturing out to the outer decks for walks and bird watching, he continued. When inside, everyone wears masks and keeps a safe distance from each other.
On May 3, the World Health Organization reported a hantavirus outbreak aboard an expedition cruise operated by the Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions. The vessel, the MV Hondius, was en route from Argentina to Cape Verde, an island offshore Africa’s west coast, with about 150 guests.
Officials believe the outbreak started when a married couple, who were Dutch nationals, became infected while engaging in wildlife expeditions onshore. Both later died.
By May 7, there were five confirmed people with the rodent-borne virus, with three others suspected, according to the WHO. Passengers who have disembarked and returned to their home countries are now being monitored by health officials, including in five U.S. states. However, officials said they have not shown symptoms.
As word of the outbreak spreads and sparks fears of a global pandemic, those on the ship report a rollercoaster of emotions. The WHO stresses the “limited” nature of the hantavirus outbreak, adding that the public health risk is low.
Now that medical evacuations have taken place, passengers said they’re staying calm while reminding others that they’re more than just a news report.
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‘Very Shocking’ Experience
Turkish YouTuber Ruhi Cenet was a passenger aboard the MV Hondius on April 11 when the first passenger died after showing symptoms of fever, headache and mild diarrhea starting April 6. “It was very shocking because (we) were onboard with these people for 24 days straight, we have relationships, so I knew these people so I’m very sad they were going through this human crisis,” Cenet said in an interview with Sky News.
On the morning of April 12, passengers were called to the launch area for an announcement of the Dutch passenger’s death by the captain, which “was unusual” for the cruise’s typical schedule, said Cenet. In his announcement, the captain said the death was believed to be from natural causes.
“We were not ready, we were not isolated for what was to come,” he continued. “We were together for breakfast, lunch and dinner… often open buffets…lecture sessions, group activities.”
On April 24 at the island of St. Helena, 30 guests disembarked the ship, including the body of the Dutch traveler, accompanied by his wife, who later died and was also confirmed to have hantavirus.
Cenet was one of those who left the ship. In his interview, he said there were no precautions being taken but that he could not “put the full blame on them.”
Ongoing Journey and Concerns
Belgian national Helene Goessaert is a solo traveler who is still on the cruise, according to Belgian Flemish media outlet Flander News. “You don’t set out on a trip thinking that one of your fellow passengers won’t make it,” she said, adding that the cruise operator is updating passengers regularly.
A sense of relief
The MV Hondius left Cape Verde on May 6 after medically evacuating three suspected infected passengers to the Netherlands for treatment, plus boarding three medical professionals, according to Oceanwide Expeditions. The ship is headed toward the Canary Islands.
Hattuta added in his statement that it’s a relief for everyone onboard that those who might be infected are getting the medical care they need.
Guests still on the ship have access to food and water, and can have their meals delivered to their cabin.
Jake Rosmarin, another guest, said in a statement that people are overall in good spirits and feel supported. “Oceanwide Expeditions and the crew have been doing everything within their ability to keep passengers safe, informed, and as comfortable as possible during this time,” said the Boston-based travel content creator.
On May 6, Rosmarin posted a statement on Instagram saying that any claims of the ship being “dirty or poorly maintained are simply not true.”
He also sent a message to remind the public that “what’s happening right now is real for all of us here. We’re not just a story, we’re not just headlines, we’re people, people with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home” in a May 4 Instagram video.
Hattuta echoed that sentiment. “I’ve seen lots of people on social media speculating about the reason most passengers are not posting anything publicly, and whether there are any rules regarding posting on the ship, but the reason is simply because the passengers want to keep their privacy, we have Wi-Fi and everyone is free to share whatever they like but it’s not easy having all this media exposure out of nowhere and most people don’t want it, I hope the media will respect that.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘We’re not just headlines’: Passengers on hantavirus cruise ship speak
