A passenger on board the doomed cruise ship struck by a fatal rat-borne virus has published an emotional plea, as Cape Verde authorities continue to refuse to offload sick travellers.
Three people have died so far after the suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius ship, travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde, including a married couple from the Netherlands.
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.
Speaking from his bed aboard the ship, US travel blogger Jake Rosmarin released a tearful plea for support, telling his 44 thousand 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’.
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
A demonstration by chefs on the MV Hondius before the hantavirus outbreak
In its first statement on the crisis, Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed it was dealing with ‘a serious medical situation’ on board the MV Hondius, where there are 19 British passengers and four British crew members.
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 organise 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.
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 authorisation’ has been granted from Cape Verdean authorities to allow those requiring medical care to disembark.
Meanwhile, passengers face an agonising wait to learn if they have contracted the virus – which can take up to eight weeks to show symptoms.
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 UK 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.’
Gourmet meals served on the MV Hondius pictured in images shared by the ship’s chef
The ship is pictured from a boat with a rainbow
The crew is pictured sitting down for a meal before the ship’s departure
‘Oceanwide Expeditions is working closely with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs,’ the statement said.
‘At the same time, preparations are being made for possible medical repatriation and next steps. The option of sailing on to Las Palmas or Tenerife are being considered to be the gateway for disembarkation, where further medical screening and handling could take place.
‘Strict precautionary measures are in process on board, including isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring. All passengers have been informed and are being supported.’
According to the UK Government’s hantavirus advice, symptoms typically appear anywhere from two to four weeks, but can range from two days to eight weeks after exposure, meaning illness may develop in other passengers in the coming days or weeks.
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 minimising contact with rodents.
Hantavirus was in the news last year, when it was confirmed that actor Gene Hackman’s wife died from the rodent-borne disease. Hackman died of heart disease shortly after.
Laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations are now taking place – with medical care and support provided to passengers and crew, the WHO said.
Images from the MV Hondius show gourmet dining and a dedicated crew before the deadly outbreak sent the voyage into chaos.
The ship’s chef, Khabir Moraes, shared photos on his Facebook of fancy meals and passengers enjoying themselves before the outbreak began.
Passengers seen enjoying themselves on the vessel before the deadly outbreak
The South African Department of Health said the Dutch male passenger suffered fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, and died in St Helena while his wife was taken to hospital in the Kempton Park area of South Africa after collapsing at an airport.
A letter distributed to customers from cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions on Sunday, seen by the Daily Mail, informed them it was ‘awaiting approval’ for passengers to leave the ship.
The letter said: ‘As you are aware, we are responding to several cases of an unidentified virus.
‘We regret to share that, overnight, a guest presenting severe symptoms has passed away.
‘We are currently anchored offshore of Cape Verde and awaiting approval from the Cape Verde authorities to disembark, with priority given to those who require immediate medical care.
‘At this stage, we do not have authorisation from the Cape Verde authorities to disembark.’
The letter went on to advise that all those onboard continue to ‘follow best practices, wear face masks, maintain distancing, and, where possible, minimise contact with fellow guests’.
It added: ‘Please remain assured that we are applying pressure through all available channels, including at the diplomatic level, to provide urgent care to individuals presenting severe symptoms and to ensure all guests aboard can be properly supported within an adequate health screening process.’
However, one passenger told the Daily Mail: ‘We have not heard from Oceanwide at all. We still have friends on the ship.’
A letter distributed to customers from cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions, seen by the Daily Mail, informed them it was ‘awaiting approval’ for passengers to leave the ship
Speaking on social media, a Turkish passenger on the ship said his ‘Irish friend’ was receiving treatment in South Africa – but that, fortunately, his condition was ‘improving’.
He wrote: ‘Normally, human-to-human transmission is not common. However, we are in a very complicated situation. Please keep us in your thoughts.
‘We will complete this ocean crossing. Since we are not allowed to go ashore in Cape Verde, most likely we will head to the Canary Islands. We hope to be in good condition there.’
The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius marks the fourth cruise ship outbreak this year.
This follows a record 2025, where 23 reported illnesses reached a 10-year high.
Speaking to the BBC, epidemiologist Michael Baker said the passengers who had the suspected hantavirus would have been infected before boarding the ship due to its long incubation period.
He said those with symptoms should be ‘rapidly evacuated’ and taken to intensive care units to increase their chances of survival.
The vessel can accommodate around 170 passengers and has some 70 crew members.
The Foreign Office told the Daily Mail: ‘We are closely monitoring reports of a potential hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship Hondius and stand ready to support British nationals if needed.
‘We are in touch with the cruise company and local authorities.’
Oceanwide Expeditions has been contacted for comment.
