The global health community is on high alert Tuesday as 11 cases of the deadly hantavirus have been linked to a remote nature-sightseeing cruise, sparking a multi-state quarantine effort in the United States. While nine cases are laboratory-confirmed and two remain suspected, officials warn the toll could climb due to the virus’s lengthy 42-day incubation period.
Among the 18 Americans who returned from the MV Hondius on Monday, 16 are currently stationed at the National Quarantine Center in Omaha, Nebraska, while two others are being monitored at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Two of these passengers have been placed in specialized biocontainment units as a precautionary measure.
Jake Rosmarin, one of the travelers quarantined at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, spoke about the transition from the ship to the clinic on NBC’s TODAY.
READ: Florida Health Expert Weighs In As French Passenger, American Test Positive For Hantavirus
“I’m happy to be in a place where I know we are well cared for, and if anything happens, we have the medical attention that we need,” Rosmarin said. He noted that he currently remains asymptomatic and has not tested positive for the virus.
The outbreak has already claimed three lives: a German national and a Dutch couple. The initial fatality occurred as the ship stopped at the island of St. Helena. The victim’s wife later died in a Johannesburg hospital after traveling there from the island.
The MV Hondius originally departed Argentina on April 1 with nearly 150 people on board. The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently investigating the source of the infection, with a specific focus on a bird-watching excursion in southern Argentina attended by the first victim before the cruise began.
While the ship eventually docked in the Canary Islands on Sunday to allow for repatriation, the atmosphere on board was tense. Rosmarin described the moment he learned of the outbreak as “really scary,” noting that he stayed in his cabin as much as possible until reaching Spain.
International protocols for the exposed passengers vary. In Spain and France, authorities are requiring a full 42-day quarantine. In the U.S., medical directors are encouraging the full 42-day isolation, though passengers who remain asymptomatic may eventually have the option to self-isolate at home after a few days of initial supervision.
Despite the localized cases in France, Spain, Switzerland, and the U.S., health officials are working to calm public fears. Dr. Brian Christine, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, emphasized that the general risk remains “very, very low.”
READ: Florida Cruise Ship Search Leads To 5-Year Prison Sentence For Tennessee Man
He explained that the Andes variant of the virus does not spread easily and typically requires prolonged close contact with a symptomatic individual.
As of Tuesday, the MV Hondius is sailing toward Rotterdam with 27 crew members on board. It is expected to arrive in the Netherlands this Sunday. This incident follows a previous “superspreader” hantavirus event in Argentina in 2018, which resulted in 34 illnesses and 11 deaths.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
