Two French passengers on the MV Hondius described their near-normal daily life aboard the ship under international health alert, following three deaths reported since April 11.
Julia and Roland Seitre, two of the five French passengers on the MV Hondius, stated in a communiqué sent to AFP that there was "no panic on board" and that everything was fine for them and the other passengers.
They explained that recommendations include staying in cabins, avoiding large gatherings, and maintaining safety distances during meals. The couple, from Indre-et-Loire, noted that the cruise, which linked Ushuaia in Argentina to the Cape Verde archipelago, was neither luxury nor classic, with a high average age and passengers passionate about ornithology or botany.
The ship, under alert since last weekend after notification to the WHO of three suspected hantavirus deaths, is expected Sunday in Tenerife for an evacuation planned early next week. The Seitres praised the dedication of the crew and onboard doctor while emphasizing that the situation was a limited cluster and not an epidemic.
