Hantavirus remains a major global concern, and one travel blogger who was aboard the MV Hondius said conditions did not begin deteriorating until just days before disembarking.
“So I think everything just felt like a coincidence or just weird things happening,” Jake Rosmarin, who is on day seven of a 42-day quarantine, told NewsNation.
Three passengers on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship died after contracting the Andes strain of hantavirus, and several others were infected. A small number of Americans who disembarked have either tested positive or are being monitored in the United States.
Traveler says warning signs emerged just days before disembarking
“We got to visit some remarkable places and things that I never thought I would experience, and things really didn’t go downhill until that last 24 to 48 hours before we were originally supposed to disembark on May 4,” Rosmarin said.
Rosmarin, who did not contract the virus, said he hopes to get some fresh air during quarantine. He said those staying at the specialized hospital have not been allowed outside and noted the facility uses individual ventilation systems to prevent cross-contamination between rooms.
“Most of the day, we’re just spending in the room with nothing for us to do,” he said.