![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4JP1QMD_AFP__20260505__A9X337R__v2__HighRes__CapeVerdeHealthTourism_jpg.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nBy Fergus Gregg, ABC News<\/p>\n
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\nAn aerial view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde.
\nPhoto: AFP\n<\/p>\n
It was meant to be the journey of a lifetime for Boston-based travel influencer Jake Rosmarin, crossing the South Atlantic Ocean from Ushuia in Argentina to Cape Verde off the coast of Africa.<\/p>\n
“This was easily one of the most exciting moments of the entire trip,” Rosmarin said as he travelled to Tristan Da Cunha, a British Overseas Territory that holds the title of most remote inhabited island in the world.<\/p>\n
But just days later, his excitement was gone, replaced with tears and uncertainty.<\/p>\n
“What’s happening right now is very real for all us here,” Rosmarin said, from aboard the hantavirus-stricken ship.<\/a><\/p>\n The MV Hondius, part of the Oceanwide Expeditions’ cruise ship fleet, was on a 34-day voyage across the Atlantic Ocean carrying 147 passengers and crew.<\/p>\n It made international headlines after an outbreak of hantavirus killed three passengers.<\/a><\/p>\n \nJake Rosmarin is still aboard the MV Hondius, which suffered an outbreak of hantavirus while voyaging through the south Atlantic. “We’re not just a story, we’re not just headlines, we’re people,” Rosmarin said.<\/p>\n “With people waiting for us at home.”<\/p>\n The latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed two cases had been substantiated in a laboratory setting, with another five suspected.<\/a><\/p>\n One patient is critically ill, with three others reporting mild symptoms.<\/p>\n “The outbreak is being managed through a coordinated international response, and includes in-depth investigations, case isolation and care, medical evacuation and laboratory investigations,” the WHO said in a statement.<\/p>\n \nRuhi \u00c7enet departed the ship before the extent of the outbreak became clear. Ruhi \u00c7enet, a Turkish content creator, travel blogger and documentary filmmaker, was also travelling aboard the MV Hondius, but left the ship after the first death was announced.<\/p>\n “When one of the passengers died during their month-long journey on the expedition vessel I honestly thought it was because of the rough ocean conditions,” \u00c7enet said in a video posted to his Instagram.<\/p>\n “But it turns out the situation is much worse than we were told.”<\/p>\n \u00c7enet shared footage of an Oceanwide Expedition employee announcing one of the passengers “sadly passed away last night”.<\/p>\n \nRuhi \u00c7enet shared a video of an Oceanwide Expeditions staff member announcing the first death to the passengers. “I’m told by the doctor we’re not infectious,” an unnamed employee said in the video.<\/p>\n “The ship is safe when it comes to that.”<\/p>\n \u00c7enet said his thoughts were still “with the people of the ship”, but he thought Oceanwide Expeditions staff should have implemented quarantine measures sooner.<\/p>\n “I wish the vessels’ management had taken this problem more seriously from the very first step,” he said.<\/p>\n Cape Verde, where the voyage was originally meant to terminate, banned the MV Hondius from docking<\/a>, but the Spanish Health Ministry has announced it will accept the ship at the Canary Islands.<\/p>\n In a statement, Oceanwide Expeditions said three people would be evacuated to Cape Verde<\/a> in specialised aircraft, to be transported to the Netherlands for further treatment from there.<\/p>\n “Our plan is to proceed to the Canary Islands, either Gran Canaria or Tenerife, which will take three days of sailing,” it said.<\/p>\n “Discussions are ongoing with relevant authorities.”<\/p>\n Rosmarin, who is still on board, says “there’s a lot of uncertainty and that’s the hardest part”.<\/p>\n “All we want now is to feel safe, to have clarity and to get home.”<\/p>\n![\"Jake](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4JP1R2K_9e6d9fc3003cbcdcba860c6b573ae01c_avif.jpeg\")
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\nPhoto: Jake Rosmarin \/ supplied\n<\/p>\n![\"Ruhi](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4JP1R01_87b2c2bb8f988c6e5f731b14ed8c74f5_avif.jpeg\")
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\nPhoto: Ruhi \u00c7enet \/ supplied\n<\/p>\n![\"Ruhi](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4JP1QWV_3c178e1f8dd4f142fd82f64bb2ee3be0_avif.jpeg\")
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\nPhoto: Ruhi \u00c7enet \/ supplied\n<\/p>\n