A British doctor who was medically evacuated from a cruise ship struck by a deadly Hantavirus outbreak is in a serious but stable condition. The doctor, aged 56, was among three individuals airlifted from the MV Hondius on Wednesday, as authorities continue to investigate the origins of the virus that has claimed three lives.
Outbreak Origins Traced to Birdwatching Trip
Argentine officials suspect that the Hantavirus was brought onto the ship by a Dutch couple who had gone birdwatching at a landfill site in Ushuaia, Argentina, before boarding. The couple, a 70-year-old man and his 69-year-old wife, were the first to report symptoms four days into the cruise and both later died. Authorities believe they may have been exposed to rodents carrying the infection during their outing.
Ushuaia and the surrounding province of Tierra del Fuego had never previously recorded a case of Hantavirus, which is more common in rural inland areas. The virus is known to cause severe respiratory illness and can be fatal.
Medical Evacuations and Current Conditions
Three people were evacuated from the ship, including the British doctor, a 41-year-old Dutch crew member, and a 65-year-old German national who was asymptomatic but had been travelling with a passenger who died. The two symptomatic individuals are in serious condition but have not yet tested positive for Hantavirus. The German national will return to Germany.
The British doctor is receiving treatment in a Netherlands medical facility. Eight people on the ship are believed to have been exposed to the virus, with three confirmed cases, including the British passenger still in intensive care in Johannesburg.
Passenger Accounts and Criticism
Filmmaker Ruhi Cenet, a passenger on the ship, criticized the vessel's management for not implementing quarantine measures sooner. In a video posted on Instagram, he showed a senior crew member announcing the first death, initially attributed to natural causes. Cenet stated, "All the passengers are stuck in an unknown quarantine situation... I wish the vessel’s management had taken this problem more seriously from the very first death."
Oceanwide Expeditions, the cruise operator, defended its actions, saying that at the time of the announcement, the cause of death was unknown and no other symptomatic individuals were present. They stated that proper procedures were followed.
International Response and Future Plans
The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the overall public health risk as low. South African authorities are tracing 90 people who were on a flight with the deceased Dutch woman. The virus strain has been identified as the Andes strain, which can be transmitted from person to person, though such transmission is rare.
The ship is expected to dock in Tenerife, Spain, where non-Spanish passengers will be repatriated and Spanish passengers will be quarantined at a military hospital in Madrid. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that the Foreign Office is working to support British nationals and facilitate their safe return.
Passengers remain in their cabins, keeping busy with reading and movies, as the situation unfolds.
