What is happening on the hantavirus ship? Passengers speak out

Two of the five French passengers aboard the MV “Hantius”, a vessel affected by cases of hantavirus, decided to speak out, but they chose to do so via an email sent to France Inter on Thursday.

Julia and Roland, a retired couple in their sixties, describe a situation that is far calmer than external reports might suggest. “There is no panic on board,” they write, adding that there is “no need to overdramatise” the situation.

According to them, no new cases have been detected, and conditions remain stable for the three other French passengers as well as the rest of the tourists and crew. Although new suspected case have been reported.

The couple say that “a significant psychological burden has lifted” following the evacuation of infected passengers. In total, three people have died and five infected individuals were evacuated earlier.

Life on board, they explain, has remained “almost normal.” Passengers are still able to interact, albeit in small groups and at a distance, with masks required in shared spaces. Meals are served in the dining area under strict distancing rules.

They also stress that the French authorities remain actively involved. “We are in contact with the ministry’s crisis unit, which has reached out to all French citizens on board and provided emergency contact lines, including psychological support,” they wrote.

In their message, Julia and Roland also emphasise that this is not a luxury cruise, but a scientific and passion-driven expedition, bringing together ornithologists, historians, geographers, botanists, and even specialists in cetaceans and astronomy.

The ship, which departed Ushuaïa on April 1 bound for Cape Verde, is now heading towards Tenerife, where it is expected to anchor and begin the evacuation of the remaining passengers.