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Turkish travel YouTuber Ruhi Cenet has spoken about a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a luxury expedition cruise ship that reportedly claimed three lives and infected several passengers during a voyage across the South Atlantic.
The 35-year-old content creator was among nearly 150 people travelling aboard the MV Hondius when the outbreak unfolded last month. Cenet had boarded the vessel in Argentina on April 1 for a 36-day expedition departing from Ushuaia, hoping to document Tristan da Cunha, one of the world’s most isolated inhabited island groups.
What began as a scenic expedition with birdwatchers and adventure travellers soon turned into what Cenet described as a major health emergency.
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Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal disease commonly spread through rodents. On a cruise ship, human-to-human transmission is possible, though generally considered rare. The virus can spread through airborne particles from rodent droppings or direct contact.
A hantavirus outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius cruise ship, resulting in at least five confirmed cases, three suspected infections, and three deaths. The outbreak began during a voyage from Argentina across the South Atlantic.
Passengers were first alerted to a potential crisis when the ship's captain announced the sudden death of a passenger. Concerns escalated as more people onboard began showing symptoms, leading to the realization of a hantavirus outbreak.
The travel vlogger Ruhi Cenet criticized the cruise operator for not responding aggressively enough. He suggested that potentially infected passengers should have been isolated earlier and that blood testing should have been conducted.
There were concerns that passengers might have unintentionally exposed residents of isolated communities, such as Tristan da Cunha, to the virus. This was particularly worrying due to the limited medical facilities on such islands.
WHO Linked Multiple Cases To Ship
According to the World Health Organization, the outbreak has so far been linked to five confirmed hantavirus cases, three suspected infections and three deaths connected to the vessel.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal disease commonly spread through rodents, although certain strains can also spread from person to person.
Health officials have warned that additional infections could still emerge because the virus can have an incubation period of up to six weeks.
First Signs Of Trouble Emerged Mid-Voyage
Cenet said passengers were first alerted to a possible crisis on April 12 when the ship’s captain made an unexpected announcement.
“This is my sad duty to inform you that one of our passengers suddenly passed away last night,” the captain said in a video recorded by the YouTuber.
According to Cenet, passengers were initially reassured that the death had occurred due to “natural causes” and was “not infectious.”
“The ship is safe,” the captain announced.
At the time, many passengers reportedly accepted the explanation, partly because the ship had been travelling through rough weather conditions.
“I honestly thought it was because of rough ocean conditions,” Cenet later said in a video shared on Instagram.
See the video here:
However, concerns escalated as more people onboard reportedly began showing symptoms.
“It became clear there was hantavirus onboard,” Cenet said.
YouTuber Criticises Cruise Management
The travel vlogger also criticised the cruise operator for allegedly failing to respond aggressively enough after warning signs emerged.
“I wish the vessel management had taken this problem more seriously,” he said.
According to Cenet, potentially infected passengers should have been isolated much earlier and blood testing should have been conducted both before and during the expedition.
He claimed the ship continued operating for another 11 days after he disembarked before stricter quarantine protocols were introduced.
The YouTuber further questioned the medical preparedness onboard, saying the ship lacked sufficient emergency infrastructure for handling an infectious disease outbreak.
“I think these kinds of ships should have some sort of a lab or necessary equipment in case of outbreaks,” he said.
Cenet added that the vessel reportedly had only one doctor onboard, who has now also contracted the virus and is said to be in critical condition.
Concerns Over Tristan da Cunha Stop
Cenet also expressed regret about the cruise continuing with its planned stop at Tristan da Cunha after the first passenger death.
He feared that passengers may have unintentionally exposed residents of the isolated island community to the virus.
“I wish we did not land there after the first casualty,” he said.
“This is one of my regrets, because the island is the most remote one, and they don’t have enough medical centres, enough doctors,” he added.
Tristan da Cunha, often described as the world’s most remote inhabited archipelago, has limited healthcare facilities and remains heavily dependent on outside support for medical emergencies.
Ship Quarantined As Monitoring Continues
Following the outbreak, the MV Hondius reportedly entered quarantine near Cape Verde before heading toward Spain’s Canary Islands.
Passengers who remained onboard were instructed to isolate inside their cabins and wear masks as authorities continued monitoring the outbreak.
The incident has drawn widespread attention online after Cenet documented parts of the ordeal on social media, with many users raising concerns about health preparedness and safety measures aboard long-distance cruise expeditions.
Health authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as investigations into the outbreak remain underway.
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