What happened on board the MV Hondius? This cruise ship, which was traveling between Ushuaia, Argentina and the Cape Verde archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa, is the scene of a series of acute respiratory infections that has led to the deaths of three passengers. Three other people present the same symptoms and have required emergency medical care. A test confirmed that one of the patients had been infected with a virus from the hantavirus family, which causes relatively rare but often severe infections.
“Given the available medical information, particularly the long incubation periods and the strict health protocols we enforce on board, there is nothing to indicate that the origin was on the ship. Initial findings suggest the infection came from a passenger who had traveled in South America before boarding,” said Rémi Bouysset, the French CEO of Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch company that operates the MV Hondius. As of now, the vessel is carrying 88 passengers, including five French nationals and 61 crew members. Most of the travelers are American, British or Spanish.
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