A passenger on the ill-fated cruise ship MV Hondius, which is grappling with a deadly hantavirus outbreak, has made an emotional appeal for assistance as authorities in Cape Verde continue to deny permission for sick travellers to disembark. The ship has been anchored off the coast of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, for at least 24 hours, with no resolution in sight.
Outbreak Details
Three people have died from the suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius, which departed from Ushuaia in Argentina and was en route to Cape Verde. Among the deceased are a married couple from the Netherlands. Three additional suspected cases have been identified, including a 69-year-old British man who was airlifted to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he remains in intensive care.
Passenger's Plea
US travel blogger Jake Rosmarin, speaking from his bed aboard the ship, released a tearful video plea on Instagram to his 44,000 followers. He said: '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, he added: '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.' He ended the plea asking for 'kindness and understanding'.
Response from Authorities
Oceanwide Expeditions, the cruise operator, confirmed it is dealing with 'a serious medical situation' on the MV Hondius, which carries 19 British passengers and four British crew members among 149 people from 23 nationalities. The vessel sails under the Dutch flag, so the Netherlands is coordinating consular assistance. Dutch authorities have agreed to lead repatriation efforts for two symptomatic individuals, but Cape Verdean authorities are reluctant to allow disembarkation to protect the local population. The president of the Cape Verdean Public Health Institute stated the ship should 'continue its route'.
Medical Evacuations
A 70-year-old Dutch man died on April 11, with his cause of death initially undetermined. His 69-year-old wife accompanied his repatriation but later fell ill and died. On April 27, a 69-year-old UK national became seriously ill and was evacuated to South Africa, where he is in critical but stable condition. A strain of hantavirus was identified in that patient. On May 2, a German passenger died. Two crew members, one British and one Dutch, have acute respiratory symptoms and require urgent medical care.
Precautionary Measures
Strict measures are in place on board, including isolation, hygiene protocols, and medical monitoring. The ship is considering sailing to Las Palmas or Tenerife for disembarkation and further medical screening. The World Health Organization, the RIVM, and relevant embassies are involved. Hantaviruses, spread by rodents, can cause severe respiratory illness or haemorrhagic disease, with a fatality rate of around 40 per cent. Symptoms can appear between two days and eight weeks after exposure, meaning other passengers may develop illness in the coming days.
Passengers face an agonising wait to learn if they have contracted the virus. One Turkish passenger said his 'Irish friend' was improving in South Africa, and the ship will likely head to the Canary Islands. This marks the fourth cruise ship outbreak this year, following a record 2025 with 23 reported illnesses. The Foreign Office said it is monitoring the situation and stands ready to support British nationals.
