A suspected hantavirus outbreak on a luxury cruise ship has left three people dead and a British man fighting for his life in intensive care, with several others displaying symptoms on the MV Hondius
A disease outbreak aboard a luxury cruise liner has claimed three lives with several others showing symptoms, including a British man battling for his life in intensive care. The infections occurred on the MV Hondius cruise vessel, which was sailing with 149 passengers from Argentina to Cabo Verde.
The deadly outbreak is thought to have been triggered by hantavirus, a group of viruses transmitted by mice, rats, and other rodents that kills 40% of those infected. Catching hantavirus primarily occurs through inhaling airborne particles found in dried rodent faeces, which infiltrate your cells, particularly the lungs.
Though uncommon, the virus can also spread through rodent scratches and bites, and there’s some evidence the infection may pass between humans, although such instances are infrequent. Those struck by the fatal virus typically start showing flu-like symptoms, including fevers, headaches and muscle aches.
The resemblance to flu often means it’s detected late or wrongly diagnosed, allowing hantavirus to spread further. Patients also describe experiencing chills, dizziness along with severe nausea and abdominal pain.
As the ship remains at Cape Verde, near West Africa, the Daily Star takes a look of what life will look like on board for those on board.
Medics board ship
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed emergency medical staff have boarded MV Hondius to evacuate two people. It has been reported that there has been human to human transmission of the deadly virus.
Two people associated with the ship have tested positive for Hantavirus while five more are suspected to have contracted the virus.
A British tourist is fighting for his life in South Africa after disembarking the ship is one of the confirmed Hantavirus cases. It has also been confirmed that a Dutch husband, 70, and wife, 69, are among the three fatalities.
The man died on board while the woman passed away after disembarking at St Helena along with the man’s remains.
Life on ‘plague ship’ and can you use the waterslide
When a deadly viral disease rips through a cruise ship, passengers are forced to quarantine in their cabins. Covid-era measures such as hand-washing, health monitoring such as testing and isolation precautions become mandatory.
In order to quell the spread of the Hantavirus, passengers are forced to live in their cabins as fun activities like water slide and evening entertainment are all shut down. Oceanwide Expeditions has implemented similar measures on board MV Hondius.
A spokesperson said: “Strict precautionary measures are in process on board, including isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring.”
Passenger’s emotional plea
One passenger on board the cruise ship gave an insight into life on board the MV Hondius. In an emotional video to his followers, American travel influencer Jake Rosmarin told his online followers of his struggles adjusting to life on the “plague ship”.
He said: “I am currently on board the MV Hondius. 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 with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home. 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 added: “So if you are seeing coverage about this, just remember there are real people behind it and this isn’t something happening far away. It is happening to us right now.
“I’ll share more when I can but for now I ask for your kindness and understanding.”
What happens if you fall ill at sea?
Cruise ships are required to have medical staff on call at all times, meaning it can be easier to be seen on board than trying to get into a GP’s surgery in Britain. However, the doctor and two nurses understood to be on board the MV Hondius are likely to be under severe pressure as they battle the Hantavirus outbreak.
Bigger cruise ships have pretty extensive medical facilities and most liners can carry out minor surgeries that do not require general anaesthetic. Stitches, draining abscesses and removing cysts can all be done on board bigger ships.
If the cause of your illness is not immediately obvious, most liners have the equipment to carry out tests to determine what is wrong. Some even have laboratories for blood testing and facilities to diagnose a range of conditions, including liver disease, kidney problems, cardiac issues and metabolic disorders such as diabetes and gout.
Where do the bodies go?
An estimated 200 people die every year while on cruises. The most common causes are from strokes, heart attacks or trauma from a fall.
Cruise ship operators use special codes to inform staff of a death. One company announces ‘Operation Bright Star’ for a medical emergency and ‘Operation Rising Star’ for a passenger death.
Another British cruise operator uses ‘Alpha’ to secretly announce a person has died.
All cruise ships have morgues which can usually store up to five bodies. However, the facilities on MV Hondius are understood to be considerably smaller.
The first death on board the MV Hondius occurred on April 11 but the man’s body was not brought ashore for 23 days. The man’s remains was taken off board on the island of St Helena. His wife also disembarked here before she died two days later.
A third German passenger died on May 2 and they remain in the ship’s morgue, the Daily Mail reported.