90-Second Read: ‘We’re not just headlines’: Passengers on Hantavirus cruise ship speak

With additional doctors now aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship and those with suspected or confirmed cases of Hantavirus evacuated, passenger Kasem Ibn Hattuta said he's feeling reassured. On May 3, the World Health Organization reported a Hantavirus outbreak aboard an expedition cruise operated by the Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions. The WHO stresses the "limited" nature of the Hantavirus outbreak, adding that the public health risk is low. Everyone is keeping high spirit, people are smiling and taking the situation calmly." Some passengers are reportedly venturing out to the outer decks for walks and bird watching, he continued. On the morning of April 12, passengers were called to the launch area for an announcement of the Dutch passenger's death by the captain, which "was unusual" for the cruise's typical schedule, said.

Helena, 30 guests disembarked the ship, including the body of the Dutch traveler, accompanied by his wife, who later died and was also confirmed to have Hantavirus. You don't set out on a trip thinking that one of your fellow passengers won't make it," she said, adding that the cruise operator is updating passengers regularly. In an email to USA TODAY, he said he feels healthy but was "very concerned" about the people on the vessel when he heard news of Hantavirus. It was very shocking because (we) were onboard with these people for 24 days straight, we have relationships, so I knew these people so I'm very sad they were going through this human crisis," Cenet said in an interview with Sky News. In his interview, he said there.

By May 7, there were five confirmed people with the rodent-borne virus, with three others suspected, according to the WHO. Now that medical evacuations have taken place, passengers said they're staying calm while reminding others that they're more than just a news report. The MV Hondius left Cape Verde on May 6 after medically evacuating three suspected infected passengers to the Netherlands for treatment, plus boarding three medical professionals, according to Oceanwide Expeditions. 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" in a May 4 Instagram video. When inside, everyone wears masks and keeps a safe distance from each other.

Oceanwide Expeditions and the crew have been doing everything within their ability to keep passengers safe, informed, and as comfortable as possible during this time," said the Boston-based travel content creator. On May 6, Rosmarin posted a statement on Instagram saying that any claims of the ship being "dirty or poorly maintained are simply not true." He also sent a message to remind the public that "what's happening right now is real for all of us here. The vessel, the MV Hondius, was en route from Argentina to Cape Verde, an island offshore Africa's west coast, with about 150 guests. Officials believe the outbreak started when a married couple, who were Dutch nationals, became infected while engaging in wildlife expeditions onshore. Turkish YouTuber Ruhi Cenet was a passenger aboard the.