U.S. travel influencer shares emotional message aboard cruise ship after hantavirus deaths

An American travel influencer has shared an emotional message on social media after three fellow cruise ship passengers died in what officials say is a hantavirus outbreak.

“I’m currently on board the MV Hondius, and what’s happening right now is very real for all of us here,” Jake Rosmarin said in an Instagram video posted on Monday.

“We’re not just a story,” he continued, his voice raspy as he appeared to be crying. “We’re not just headlines. We’re people – people with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home.”

Taking a deep breath, Rosmarin added that the hardest part is “a lot of uncertainty.”

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The Dutch ship MV Hondius has been awaiting help after authorities forbid passengers from disembarking at Cape Verde, an island off West Africa, because of public health concerns, The Associated Press reported.

The ship’s operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, has confirmed four Canadians are among the 149 people on board.

Rosmarin’s Instagram account indicates that he’s from Boston, has more than 49,000 followers and has travelled to 100 countries and territories across seven continents.

In his post, he also wrote that he is “doing well” despite finding the situation difficult to talk about.

Oceanwide Expeditions, which operates other polar expedition cruises, and the entire crew have “been handling this situation to the best of their ability,” he added.

Rosmarin published another post on the same day.

“Everyone on board is doing OK, and the focus continues to be on keeping everyone safe and informed,” he wrote.

In a press release Tuesday, Oceanwide Expeditions said two crew members on board require “urgent medical care” and preparations for their medical evacuation are underway. Investigations into the cases are continuing and officials are discussing plans to allow passengers off the ship, the company added.

Although people usually get infected with hantavirus through rodents and their droppings, urine or saliva, the World Health Organization said the virus could have been transmitted between humans on the ship.

Jake Rosmarin, seen in a screenshot, posts a message on May 4, 2026, about the hantavirus outbreak on MV Hondius. (@jakerosmarin / Instagram)

Boston influencer shares emotional message from virus-stricken cruise after 3 deaths

A Boston travel influencer is among nearly 150 people trapped on a cruise ship currently under quarantine following a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has killed three passengers.

Jake Rosmarin confirmed to his 60,000 social media followers that he is aboard MV Hondius, an expedition vessel that reported cases of the virus earlier this month. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 147 individuals remain on board — 88 passengers and 59 crew members.

The May 4 statement from WHO reports that three people have died as a result of the virus, one is critically ill and three others are experiencing mild symptoms.

In an emotional TikTok shared on Monday, Rosmarin pushed back against the media narrative on the issue while thanking Oceanside Expeditions for its care during the crisis.

“We’re not just a story. We’re not just headlines,” Rosmarin said in the video. “We’re people; people with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home.”

Rosmarin has has publicly declined to comment otherwise on the matter “out of respect for those involved and the situation.”

The MV Hondius set out for a weeks-long expedition from Ushuaia, Argentina to Antarctica in April, according to WHO. The itinerary comprised several stops along the way to remote and ecologically diverse regions, including Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha and Saint Helena.

WHO says it “remains undetermined” whether passengers had contact with local wildlife during the voyage or prior to boarding in Ushuaia.

“Right now, the priority is making sure those who are sick receive the care they need, as well as getting to a place where we can safely disembark and access medical support,” Rosmarin said in a separate social media post. “There’s still some uncertainty, but it’s reassuring to know there is a plan in place, and I hope to be able to share more updates soon.”

On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that “At this time, the risk to the American public is extremely low” but “urge Americans aboard the ship to follow the guidance of health officials as we work to bring you home safely.”

People can get sick from hantavirus after being in contact with rodents such as rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings and saliva, according to the CDC. While rare, the virus can also spread through a bite or scratch from a rodent. There is no specific treatment for the virus.

Hantavirus is considered a severe and potentially deadly disease that affects the lungs, the agency explains. Symptoms usually start anywhere from one to eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent.

The CDC warns that 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from the disease.

Oceanside Expeditions said on Wednesday that the ship departed Cape Verde and is sailing toward the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain.

“This is expected to take 3-4 days,” the company said in its update. “Three additional medical professionals have embarked m/v Hondius to provide optimal medical care during the crossing.”