Life aboard MV Hondius: Influencer Jake Rosmarin posting about hantavirus cruise ship
An influencer aboard the cruise ship at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak said passengers were ‘not just headlines’ and that they want to go home.
An American influencer has shared a tearful update from the cruise ship at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak, where three people have died.
Jake Rosmarin, a travel influencer from Boston, is aboard MV Hondius, a polar cruise ship where about 150 people remain in isolation after a rare respiratory illness broke out.
Three people have died, one person is in intensive care, and two more aboard require “urgent medical care”.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The World Health Organisation have confirmed two cases of hantavirus, with five more under investigation.
Rosmarin initially told his 44,000 Instagram followers he would not be making any public comments about the situation “out of respect for those involved and the situation”.
One day later, however, he shared a video giving followers an insight into life aboard the ship.
“I am currently on board the MV Hondius, and what’s happening right now is very real for all of us here,” he said.
“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.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty, and that’s the hardest part.
“All we want right now is to feel safe, to have clarity, and to get home.”
In an Instagram story, Rosmarin said it “wasn’t easy” to share the update, but he was “doing well”.
He later shared a video of the opening credits of the film Wicked, implying he was watching it aboard the ship.
Sharing a video of the sun setting over the ocean with an audio clip of Grey’s Anatomy’s Meredith Grey saying “No matter how dark it gets, the sun’s gonna rise again,” he posted another statement on Tuesday morning.
“It’s taken me some time to settle my emotions, and I didn’t mean to worry anyone,” he wrote.
He went on to thank Oceanwide Expeditions and its crew for their care, saying he was “very grateful”.
“There’s still some uncertainty, but it’s reassuring to know there is a plan in place, and I hope to be able to share more updates soon,” he said.“Thank you all so much for the love and support, it truly means more than I can put into words ❤️”“For now, just taking things one step at a time, we will be okay.”
A spokesperson from Oceanwide Expeditions said two crew members were symptomatic and required “urgent medical care”.
They said no one else aboard was reported to have symptoms.
Hantavirus is spread by contact with infected rodents’ urine and faeces.
While plans are being made to evacuate the symptomatic people, there is no clear timeline for this.
The cruise line confirmed guests would not be disembarking in Cape Verde and said the Spanish archipelago Canary Islands was being considered.
