An American travel blogger recently shared a heartfelt social media update while being stuck on a cruise ship that is at the center of a suspected hantavirus outbreak. The situation has become increasingly serious, with three confirmed deaths linked to the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius. The ship initially set sail from Ushuaia in southern Argentina on March 20 and was expected to reach Cape Verde, off the coast of West Africa, on May 4.
Jake Rosmarin, a well-known travel blogger with over 44,000 followers on Instagram, was among the passengers on board when the suspected outbreak occurred. Hantavirus, which is typically transmitted from rodents to humans through their urine, droppings, or saliva, can be fatal as there is currently no cure for the infection.
In a video posted on Instagram, Rosmarin expressed his emotional state, stating, “I am currently on board the MV Hondius, and what’s happening right now is very real for all of us here.” He emphasized that the situation is not just a story or headline but involves real people with families and loved ones waiting for them back 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.”
Rosmarin also urged viewers to remember that the outbreak is not something happening far away but is directly affecting the people on the ship. In the caption of his video, he mentioned that while the topic is difficult to discuss, he is currently doing well.
The MV Hondius has a total of 149 people on board, including 19 British passengers and four British crew members. According to the shipowner, a Dutch couple and a German national have died as a result of the suspected hantavirus outbreak. A 69-year-old British passenger is currently receiving treatment in intensive care in Johannesburg.
The Dutchman who died was 70 years old. Officials reported that he suddenly developed symptoms such as fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea before passing away upon arrival at the island of St. Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic. His wife, who was 69, was evacuated to South Africa and later died in a hospital in Johannesburg.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the company that owns the ship, stated that hantavirus has only been confirmed in the case of the British man currently receiving treatment for the rodent-borne illness.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Sunday that investigations into the outbreak are ongoing. These investigations will involve further laboratory testing and epidemiological studies. The virus is also being sequenced to better understand its characteristics.
Hantavirus is primarily spread through contact with rodents or their urine, saliva, or droppings. While it is rare, the WHO notes that hantaviruses can occasionally be transmitted between people.
The illness typically starts with flu-like symptoms but can quickly progress to become life-threatening. Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, and headaches.
For those infected with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, symptoms may appear between one and eight weeks after exposure. Patients might experience chest tightness as the infection worsens.
Another form of hantavirus, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, usually develops within a week or two after exposure. The fatality rate for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is around 35 percent, while the death rate for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome varies between 1 and 15 percent of patients, according to the CDC.
There is currently no specific treatment or cure for the illness, but early medical intervention can significantly improve the chances of survival.
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