A passenger aboard the MV Hondius has issued an emotional plea while the cruise ship remains quarantined off Cape Verdeas as a result of a suspected deadly hantavirus outbreak.
Speaking from inside the vessel, Jake Rosmarin described the growing fear and uncertainty among those confined onboard. He stressed that passengers are more than just headlines, highlighting the human toll of the crisis as families wait anxiously for their loved ones to return.
“We’re not just a story we’re people with lives and families,” he said, adding that the lack of clear information has been one of the most difficult aspects of the situation. “All we want is to feel safe, understand what’s happening, and get home.”
The Dutch-operated ship has been under strict monitoring after three passengers died and several others became ill. Health officials suspect hantavirus, a rare infection usually spread through contact with contaminated rodent droppings.
Passengers have been isolating in their cabins while authorities work on a response. Critically ill individuals are being prepared for evacuation, and the ship is expected to travel to Spain’s Canary Islands once it is safe to do so.
The outbreak has drawn an international response, with experts — including scientists in South Africa conducting tests to better understand the illness.
For those still onboard, the situation remains tense, defined by isolation, uncertainty, and a strong desire to return home. Rosmarin urged the public to remember the human reality behind the news coverage.
“This isn’t happening somewhere far away it’s happening to us,” he said. “For now, I just ask for your kindness.”
