How an ocean cruise turned into a hantavirus nightmare

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – The first victim of a suspected hantavirus outbreak had already been dead 21 days when fellow passenger Jake Rosmarin posted a video about cows he had seen on a remote volcanic island in the Atlantic, showing no indication he was aware his cruise ship was about to be quarantined.

But later that evening, on May 2, Rosmarin posted, “For those who have seen recent news, yes, I am currently onboard the M/V Hondius,” adding that he did ​not wish to say more, “out of respect for those involved.”

The following day, with his ship marooned off the Cape Verde islands and refused ‌permission to ‌offload its passengers and crew, a visibly distraught Rosmarin said, “What’s happening right now is very real for all of ​us.”