Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship Raises Concerns

May 7, 2026

75 min

May 7, 2026 00:30

Hantavirus ship passenger: 'They didn't take it seriously enough'

## Cruise Ship Outbreak

A cruise ship, MV Hondius, faced a hantavirus outbreak, leading to the deaths of three passengers. The incident began when a 70-year-old Dutch man died on April 11, with the ship's captain initially attributing it to natural causes. However, the situation escalated as more passengers, including the man's wife and a German woman, succumbed to the virus.

## Passenger Reactions

Ruhi Cenet, a Turkish travel vlogger on board, expressed surprise at the lack of immediate precautions following the first death. Despite the captain's announcement, daily activities continued as usual, with passengers mingling and dining together without masks. Cenet and his cameraman chose to self-isolate as a precaution.

## Concerns for Remote Islands

The ship made a stop at Tristan da Cunha, a remote island with limited medical facilities, raising fears of spreading the virus to the local population. Cenet regrets the decision to land there, given the potential health risks to the islanders.

## Quarantine Measures

After disembarking at Saint Helena, Cenet traveled to South Africa, where he observed the deteriorating condition of the first victim's wife, who later died. The ship was quarantined off Cape Verde before heading to Spain's Canary Islands, with passengers now confined to their cabins and wearing masks.

## Calls for Better Preparedness

Cenet criticized the ship's lack of preparedness, suggesting that such vessels should be equipped with medical labs and more than one doctor, especially given the high cost of the cruise, which was around $10,000 per passenger.

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