An American passenger stranded on board a doomed cruise ship struck by a fatal rat-borne virus has published an emotional plea for kindness and understanding. Three people have died so far after the suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius, which was traveling from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde. There are three other suspected cases, including a 69-year-old British man who was taken to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he is being treated in intensive care.
Travel Blogger's Emotional Plea
Travel blogger Jake Rosmarin released a tearful plea for support, telling his 44,000 followers on Instagram: 'I am currently on board the MV Hondius, and what's happening right now is very 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.' Overwhelmed with emotion and fear, the content creator from Boston continued: 'There's a lot of uncertainty, and that's the hardest part. 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 that there are real people behind it, and that this isn't something happening far away. It's happening to us, right now.' He ended the video plea asking for 'kindness and understanding'.
Ship Operator's Response
In its first statement on the crisis, Oceanwide Expeditions, who operate the ship, confirmed it was dealing with 'a serious medical situation' on board the MV Hondius. The 353ft polar cruise ship, which left Argentina around three weeks ago before making several stops as it crossed the Atlantic, was carrying around 149 people representing 23 different nationalities. Because the vessel is sailing under the Dutch flag, the Netherlands is coordinating consular assistance for passengers, including those with other nationalities. 'Dutch authorities have agreed to lead a joint effort to organize the repatriation of the two symptomatic individuals on board MV Hondius from Cape Verde to the Netherlands,' the operator said. 'If this can take place, the ministry of foreign affairs will coordinate it,' said a spokesman from the Dutch foreign ministry.
Authorities' Reluctance
However, Cape Verdean authorities are reluctant to allow the move, with local outlet A Nacao reporting that the president of the Cape Verdean Public Health Institute said the ship should 'continue its route' and passengers will not be disembarking in Cape Verde in order to protect the local population. According to several online ship-tracking sites, the ship has been stuck off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde for at least 24 hours with the situation showing no signs of resolving soon. A statement from cruise firm Oceanwide Expeditions issued on Sunday night stated that 'no authorization' has been granted from Cape Verdean authorities to allow those requiring medical care to disembark. Meanwhile, passengers face an agonizing wait to learn if they have contracted the virus - which can take up to eight weeks to show symptoms.
Timeline of the Outbreak
A 70-year-old Dutch man was the first to die on the ship on April 11, with his cause of death undetermined. On April 24, the passenger was disembarked on St Helena, with his 69-year-old wife accompanying the repatriation. On April 27, Oceanwide Expeditions was informed that his wife had also become unwell during the return journey, and had later died. That day, a 69-year-old British national aboard the ship became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa, where he is in a critical but stable condition. A strain of hantavirus has been identified in the patient. On May 2, another passenger of German nationality died, and there are currently two crew members on the ship with acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe. Both crew members - of British and Dutch nationality - require urgent medical care. 'The disembarkation of passengers, medical evacuation and medical screening require permission from, and coordination with, the local health authorities,' a recent update from the ship said. 'Local health authorities have visited the vessel and assessed the situation. The medical transfer of the two ill persons on board has not yet taken place.'
About Hantavirus
Around 40 per cent of cases result in death, according to the US Centers for Disease Control. Hantaviruses - a family of viruses - are spread by rodents, in particular through contact with their urine, droppings and saliva. They are known to cause a range of diseases in humans ranging from mild, flu-like illness to severe respiratory illness or Haemorrhagic disease. Early symptoms can include fatigue, fever, muscle aches and intense headaches. They are not usually spread person-to-person and are typically only transferred via bodily fluids and close contact. The risk of contracting the illness can be reduced through minimizing contact with rodents.
