Turkish travel YouTuber Ruhi Cenet spoke about a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a luxury expedition cruise ship that reportedly claimed three lives and infected several passengers during a South Atlantic voyage.
The 35-year-old content creator was among nearly 150 people traveling aboard the MV Hondius when the outbreak broke out last month. Cenet boarded a ship in Argentina on April 1 for a 36-day expedition departing from Ushuaia, hoping to document Tristan da Cunha, one of the most isolated inhabited island groups in the world.
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What began as a scenic expedition with bird watchers and adventure travelers soon turned into what Cenet described as a major medical emergency.
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Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal disease that is commonly spread through rodents. On cruise ships, it can be spread by inhaling airborne particles from rodent droppings, and human-to-human transmission is also possible, although considered rare.
There was an outbreak of hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius, resulting in five confirmed cases, three suspected infections and three deaths among nearly 150 passengers and crew.
Passengers were first alerted to the potential crisis when the ship’s captain reported the unexpected death of a passenger. Initially, the death was attributed to “natural causes” and was considered “non-infectious”.
The cruise ship operator has been criticized for not responding aggressively enough, with suggestions that infected passengers should have been isolated earlier and blood tests carried out. He also questioned the ship’s medical readiness, noting that there was only one doctor on board.
After the outbreak was confirmed, the MV Hondius entered quarantine near Cape Verde. Passengers who remained on board were instructed to isolate themselves in their cabins and wear masks as authorities monitored the situation.
WHO linked more cases to send
The outbreak has so far been linked to five confirmed hantavirus cases, three suspected infections and three vessel-related deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal disease that is commonly spread through rodents, although some strains can also spread from person to person.
Health officials warned that further infections could still occur as the virus can have an incubation period of up to six weeks.
The first signs of trouble appeared halfway through the voyage
Cenet said passengers were first alerted to the potential crisis on April 12, when the ship’s captain made an unexpected announcement.
“It is my sad duty to inform you that one of our passengers passed away suddenly last night,” the captain said in a video the YouTuber recorded.
According to Cenet, passengers were initially assured that the death was of “natural causes” and that it was “not infectious”.
“The ship is safe,” the captain announced.
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At the time, many passengers reportedly accepted the explanation, partly because the ship was traveling in rough weather conditions.
“I honestly thought it was because of the rough ocean conditions,” Cenet later said in a video shared on Instagram.
Watch the video here:
However, concerns escalated when more people on board reportedly started showing symptoms.
“It was clear there was hantavirus on board,” Cenet said.
YouTuber criticizes Cruise Management
The travel vlogger also criticized the cruise operator for allegedly not responding aggressively enough after warning signs were raised.
“I wish the management of the vessel would take this issue more seriously,” he said.
According to Cenet, potentially infected passengers should have been isolated much earlier and blood tests should have been carried out before and during the expedition.
He claimed the ship continued to operate for another 11 days after he disembarked before stricter quarantine protocols were put in place.
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The YouTuber further questioned the medical preparedness on board, saying the ship lacked sufficient emergency infrastructure to handle an infectious disease outbreak.
“I think these kinds of ships should have some kind of laboratory or necessary equipment in case of an outbreak,” he said.
Cenet added that the vessel reportedly had only one doctor on board, who has now also contracted the virus and is said to be in critical condition.
Concerns about Tristan da Cunha Stop
Cenet also expressed regret that the cruise continued with a planned stop in Tristan da Cunha after the death of the first passenger.
He feared that the travelers might have inadvertently exposed residents of the isolated island community to the virus.
“I wish we hadn’t landed there after the first casualty,” he said.
“That’s one of my regrets because the island is the most remote and they don’t have enough medical centers, enough doctors,” he added.
Often described as the world’s most remote inhabited archipelago, Tristan da Cunha has limited medical facilities and remains heavily dependent on external support for medical emergencies.
Ship quarantined as monitoring continues
Following the outbreak, the MV Hondius is said to have been quarantined near Cape Verde before heading towards Spain’s Canary Islands.
Passengers who remained on board were instructed to isolate themselves in their cabins and wear masks as authorities continued to monitor the outbreak.
The incident attracted widespread attention online after Cenet documented parts of the ordeal on social media, with many users expressing concerns about medical preparedness and safety measures aboard long-haul cruise ships.
Health authorities continue to monitor the situation as the investigation into the outbreak is ongoing.
