a trip to the united states influencer Trapped on a cruise ship off West Africa where three passengers were suspected to have died in an accident, he broke down in tears in front of the camera Hantavirus outbreak. Boston travel influencer Jake Rosmarin, who has more than 44,000 followers on Instagram, shared a crying video on Monday describing the fear and uncertainty felt by people aboard the MV Hondius.
“I’m currently on board the MV Hondius. What’s happening right now is very real for all of us,” he said through tears. “We are more than a story, we are more than headlines. We are 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, have clarity and get home,” he added.
What happened on the ship?
Three passengers, a Dutch couple and a German citizen died, and about 150 people, including 17 Americans, remain trapped on the ship after a suspected outbreak. The ship was on a multi-week polar cruise from Argentina to Antarctica when problems arose in early April, according to the ship. new york post.
The first victim was a 70-year-old Dutch man who died on April 11 after developing fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhea. His body was removed from the ship two weeks later on the British territory of St. Helena, about 1,200 miles off the coast of Africa. His 69-year-old wife was transferred to South Africa at the same time but collapsed at Johannesburg Airport and later died at a nearby hospital. A third German citizen also died on board the ship on Saturday.
Authorities confirmed that a British patient who was evacuated to South Africa on April 27 subsequently tested positive for hantavirus.
Also read: Explained: What are hantaviruses? Suspected disease outbreak on deadly cruise ship
What are hantaviruses and what should you do to stay safe?
Hantaviruses are rare infections that humans usually contract from rodents. The most common way to become infected is through inhalation of tiny particles in the feces, urine or nesting material of infected rodents. It can also be spread through food contaminated by mice or, in rare cases, through bites or scratches from infected rodents. According to the New York Post, the virus does not typically spread from one person to another.
The best way to reduce the risk of hantavirus is to avoid contact with rodents. This includes trapping rats, carefully cleaning rodent droppings with disinfectants without sweeping them into the air, keeping wood piles and compost piles away from the home, removing trash that may attract rodents, and not leaving pet food where rats can access it.
