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"Health thriller" on cruise ship: Fear of deadly hantavirus mutation, two deaths and dozens of passengers in quarantine

2026-05-07 09:56:56Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

"Health thriller" on cruise ship: Fear of deadly hantavirus mutation,

As the World Health Organization continues its investigations to uncover the origin of the "Andean" mutation of hantavirus, which is suspected to have been transmitted after two passengers came into contact with rodents during a birdwatching trip in Argentina, life on the MV Hondius cruise ship is struggling to go on amid fear and uncertainty.

The ship, which advertised the trip as "an experience you will remember for a lifetime," has now become the center of a health thriller that is being followed with concern around the world.

On board the MV Hondius are 149 passengers from 23 countries, including Greeks, who are reportedly trying to maintain calm, despite the presence of WHO experts dressed in special quarantine suits checking every corner of the ship for traces of rodents.

Passengers have been asked to stay in their cabins as much as possible, use disinfectants, wear masks and respect physical distancing, in an atmosphere that brings back memories of isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.

The situation received a lot of attention on social media after the publication of a video by American travel vlogger Jake Rosemarin, who appeared tearfully from his cabin declaring: "We are not just a story or news headlines. We have families and people waiting for us at home."

His statement sparked a flurry of reactions online, with some supporting him while others urged him to be patient for the safety of the rest of the world. Later, the influencer himself posted other videos in which he appeared calmer, and according to him, the crew had taken care of the passengers by offering them food and psychological support.

Another travel influencer, Kassem Hato, also declared that "everything is under control and passengers are calm," in an attempt to curb the panic and conspiracy theories that began circulating on social media.

Claims spread online that the situation had gotten out of control, that passengers were being forcibly held in cabins, and even absurd theories claiming that the ship did not exist at all.

Meanwhile, a video recorded on April 12 showed the ship's captain informing passengers that a person had died overnight "of natural causes," assuring them that "the ship is safe and the situation is not contagious." However, outside the ship, the situation is much more tense.

The MV Hondius, which has three confirmed cases of hantavirus and at least five suspected cases, initially received permission from Spain to dock in the Canary Islands, but the decision was opposed by the region's president, Fernando Clavijo, while Cape Verde authorities also refused the ship entry.

The cruise ship had set off on April 1 from Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city on the planet, passing by the icy coasts of South America, the British island of South Georgia and Tristan da Cunha, the most isolated inhabited island in the world.

The drama began on April 11, when a Dutch passenger died under unclear circumstances. His body was transported two weeks later, while his wife ended up in a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. The WHO confirmed that the 69-year-old had been infected with hantavirus.

On April 27, another passenger was taken to a South African hospital in critical condition, while on May 2, a German tourist lost his life on board.

Authorities suspect the outbreak is linked to the "Andean" mutation of hantavirus, a rare variant that can also be transmitted from person to person and causes severe, often fatal pneumonia.

According to investigations, some passengers may have come into contact with rodents during their stay in rural areas of Argentina, where a deadly outbreak of the same mutation was recorded in 2018.

The virus is carried by long-tailed dwarf rice rats, common in rural areas of Argentina. Infection usually occurs through contact with their urine, feces, or saliva, but in the case of the “Andean” mutation, transmission can also occur between humans.

Although the WHO assesses that the risk of a global emergency remains low, hantaviruses have been classified as priority pathogens with high potential to cause international health emergencies. According to experts, hantavirus infection can be fatal in up to 40% of cases.


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