What is happening on the hantavirus ship? Passengers speak out as ship approaches Europe

Published on 08/05/2026 - 12:22 GMT+2

Two of the 5 French passengers aboard the MV "Hantius", a vas affected by cases of hantavirus, decided to talk out, but they chose to bash truthful via an email sent to France Inter connected Thursday.

Julia and Roland, a retired mates successful their sixties, picture a concern that is acold calmer than outer reports mightiness suggest. “There is nary panic connected board,” they write, adding that determination is “no request to overdramatise” the situation.

According to them, nary caller cases person been detected, and conditions stay unchangeable for the 3 different French passengers arsenic good arsenic the remainder of the tourists and crew. Although caller suspected case person been reported.

The mates accidental that “a important intelligence load has lifted” pursuing the evacuation of infected passengers. In total, 3 radical person died and 5 infected individuals were evacuated earlier.

Life connected board, they explain, has remained “almost normal.” Passengers are inactive capable to interact, albeit successful tiny groups and astatine a distance, with masks required successful shared spaces. Meals are served successful the eating country nether strict distancing rules.

They besides accent that the French authorities stay actively involved. “We are successful interaction with the ministry’s situation unit, which has reached retired to each French citizens connected committee and provided exigency interaction lines, including intelligence support,” they wrote.

In their message, Julia and Roland besides emphasise that this is not a luxury cruise, but a technological and passion-driven expedition, bringing unneurotic ornithologists, historians, geographers, botanists, and adjacent specialists successful cetaceans and astronomy.

The ship, which departed Ushuaïa connected April 1 bound for Cape Verde, is present heading towards Tenerife, wherever it is expected to anchor and statesman the evacuation of the remaining passengers.