Captain of cruise hit by hantavirus outbreak speaks out for first time with emotional message
The captain of the MV Hondius has spoken publicly in an emotional video message after the cruise ship was hit by a hantavirus outbreak.
Jan Dobrogowski, captain of the Polar Expedition vessel, addressed guests, crew, family members back home, and those following the situation, as he thanked people on board for the way they had handled the ‘extremely challenging’ weeks at sea.
The Dutch-flagged ship, which is linked to the outbreak, had set off from Argentina on 1 April on its way to Cape Verde, before later docking in Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Passengers have since been leaving the vessel, with a group of British travellers transported back to the UK to begin a period of isolation.
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Three passengers died of the virus, while three others were removed from the ship to receive specialist medical care.
In his message, Dobrogowski said: “I’ve decided to take this time to thank every single guest and crew member on board here, as well as our colleagues back home. The past few weeks have been extremely challenging to us all…
“What touched me the most, what moved me the most was your patience, your discipline, and also (the) kindness that you showed to each other throughout.”
Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans, according to the World Health Organization.
While most hantaviruses do not spread from person to person, rare human-to-human transmission has been documented with the Andes strain, which has been identified in connection with the ship.
Dobrogowski continued: “I’ve witnessed your caring, your unity and quiet strength amongst everybody on board – guests and crew alike – and I must commend my crew for their courage and the selfless resolve they showed time and again in the most difficult moments.
“I cannot imagine sailing through these circumstances with a better group of people – guests and crew alike. Most importantly, our thoughts are with the ones that are no longer with us.
“Whatever I say will not ease this loss. I’d like you to know they are with us every day, in our hearts and our thoughts.”
The captain also addressed the attention surrounding the outbreak, saying that ‘every image and every word can be taken out of context’, adding that this could be painful for those already dealing with grief, worry, and uncertainty.
He said his role as captain was to lead his crew, care for guests, and get the ship safely to port.
He also said he would “ask for privacy and respect to our guests and their families and other crew members at this difficult time”.
He added that “now, we hope to see everybody safely at home”.
Topics: Cruise Ship, Travel, Health
Ben Williams