SouthernWorldwide.com – A passenger aboard a cruise ship currently facing a hantavirus outbreak has provided an update on the ship’s cleanliness and the well-being of those onboard.
Jake Rosmarin, a travel blogger from Boston, is on the M/V Hondius, a Dutch expedition vessel that was on a lengthy polar cruise from Argentina to Antarctica and several remote South Atlantic islands when the outbreak began.
In a video shared on Instagram on Monday, Rosmarin expressed the passengers’ desire for safety, clarity, and a return home.
He later shared an updated statement with Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
“Apart from the two passengers who have fallen ill, as previously reported, everyone else on board is doing well and maintaining good spirits,” Rosmarin stated. “We are optimistic that this situation will be resolved shortly.”
Rosmarin commended the crew of Oceanwide Expeditions for their “best efforts” in ensuring passengers’ safety, keeping them informed, and providing comfort during this challenging time.
He emphasized that the M/V Hondius is an expedition vessel, not a typical cruise ship.
“These ships operate under stringent protocols with a significant focus on hygiene, particularly due to the remote and environmentally sensitive locations they visit, which necessitate high biosecurity standards,” he explained. “The vessel is maintained to an exceptionally high standard, and any claims of it being unclean are inaccurate.”
Rosmarin also detailed the safety measures implemented on the ship, including social distancing and mask-wearing protocols.
“Passengers also have the option to have meals delivered directly to their cabins,” he noted. “Access to the outdoor decks is permitted for fresh air, while indoor common areas like the lounge are currently restricted.”
“We continue to receive excellent care, and additional medical provisions and supplies have been brought aboard.”
Rosmarin reiterated his hope for a swift resolution to the situation.
The ship originally departed from Argentina on April 1. The first illness and death were recorded on April 11, and the ship arrived at Saint Helena on April 22 with the first victim on board.
Hantaviruses are a group of viruses primarily carried by rodents. They can cause severe respiratory or kidney diseases in humans.
The World Health Organization has confirmed a total of seven reported cases, comprising two confirmed and five suspected cases, with three deaths among passengers. Reports indicate that two crew members are currently ill, and one passenger was transferred to intensive care in South Africa.
The WHO is continuing its investigation into the outbreak, with the ship currently off the coast of Cape Verde. The organization noted that human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is uncommon and poses a low risk to the general public.
“We do believe that some human-to-human transmission may be occurring among very close contacts, such as spouses or individuals sharing cabins,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention at the WHO, informed reporters in Geneva.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the cruise ship company for a comment.
