Crew members of the MV Hondius reportedly reassured passengers that the outbreak’s first victim was not contagious, potentially delaying crucial safety measures.
So far, three passengers have died – a Dutch couple and a German – due to a suspected hantavirus outbreak during an ‘Atlantic Odyssey’ cruise from Argentina.
The Dutch-flagged exploration vessel MV Hondius is currently stranded off the coast of Praia, Cape Verde, following a deadly hantavirus outbreak.
Authorities said the nearly 148 people on board were denied permission to disembark due to health concerns.
So far, three passengers have died: a Dutch couple and a German citizen. Similarly, one British national is in intensive care in South Africa, while 23 other Britons are stuck on the ship.
Footage shared by a Turkish YouTuber on board appears to show crew members initially reassuring passengers that the first victim was not contagious, potentially delaying necessary precautions.
“One of our passengers died suddenly last night,” he said, adding: “The doctor told me they are not contagious… The ship is safe when it comes down to it.”
Turkish influencer Ruhi Cenet criticized the ship’s crew for their response to the first fatality. In a video on social media, he told his 1.3 million Instagram followers: “It turns out the situation was much worse than we were told.”
“One of our passengers died suddenly last night,” he said, adding: “The doctor told me they are not contagious… The ship is safe when it comes down to it.”
“I got off the ship on day 24, but this ship called MV Hondius continued to its final destination for another eleven days. Just one day after I left, the wife of the deceased person also passed away.
“After a third person died, it became clear that the hantavirus was on board.”
He added: “I wish the ship’s management had taken this problem more seriously from the very first death.
They should have thought it could be a contagious disease.
“People who may have been carriers of the virus should have been quarantined, but everyone was still together, eating together and group activities continued.
