Cpt Jan Dobrogowski of the MV Hondius has damaged his silence following the lethal Hantavirus outbreak that killed three folks, praising passengers and crew
Message from Jan Dobrogowski, Captain of m/v Hondius (Picture: Jan Dobrogowski)
The captain of the stricken vessel hit by a Hantavirus outbreak that claimed three lives has spoken out to commend his passengers and crew for his or her “kindness and braveness”.
Captain of MV Hondius, Jan Dobrogowski, in a video launched by Oceanwide Expeditions, mentioned: “Pricey friends, pricey crew, pricey relations again at residence…I’ve determined to take this time to thank each single visitor and crew member on board right here. In addition to our colleagues again residence. The previous few weeks have been extraordinarily difficult for us all, as I am positive .
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“What touched me essentially the most, what moved me essentially the most was your endurance, your self-discipline and in addition your kindness, your kindness you confirmed to one another all through.
“To see folks rely on one another..when there isn’t a available danger providers standing by to return to your assist…I’ve witnessed your caring, your unity and quiet energy amongst everybody on board, friends and crew alike.”
Three people have perished following the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius crusing from Argentina to Cape Verde. Two British nationals are receiving therapy within the Netherlands and South Africa. Two extra passengers, who departed the voyage prematurely, are self-isolating at residence.
Most variants of hantavirus, a group of viruses transmitted by rodents, don’t unfold between people, however the Andes pressure detected in a number of of the instances from the Dutch cruise liner does. The Dutch captain continued: “I have to commend my crew for his or her braveness and their selfless resolve that they confirmed repeatedly in essentially the most tough moments. I couldn’t think about crusing by means of these circumstances with a greater group of individuals, friends and crew alike.
“Most significantly; our ideas are with those not with us and no matter I say is not going to ease this loss however I might such as you to know they’re with us on daily basis in our hearts and our ideas.
“…As a Captain of Hondius my job is to steer my crew, deal with my friends and to see this ship safely to port. Our accountability doesn’t finish there ,it doesn’t finish with our arrival on the Canaries. So, we’ve all been a part of this voyage and I want nothing extra to everyone, friends and crew alike, to have the ability to go residence safely and in good well being…”
He subsequently requested privateness for each crew members and passengers, earlier than stating: “We have sailed by means of this collectively throughout the ocean – now we hope to see everyone safely at residence..”
One passenger, Melike Guner, left a message beneath the captain’s video on Instagram: “As one of many passengers who disembarked yesterday, I want to sincerely thank our captain at the start, together with each single member of the crew on board.
“All of us witnessed that they did way over anybody may have anticipated, giving their best possible all through this tough time. I’m really grateful and deeply grateful to all of them.” Final week, a passenger shared footage of the Captain as he introduced the primary fatality aboard the vessel. Notably, the announcement got here earlier than a single optimistic check for the virus had been confirmed.
He informed them: “It’s my unhappy responsibility to tell you that one of many passengers sadly handed away final evening. Tragic as it’s, it is because of pure causes I imagine … I’m informed by the physician it isn’t infectious.”
A detailed good friend of the Captain, Rafal Klepacz, praised Dobrogowski’s management, describing him because the “best particular person to command throughout a disaster” and a “calm power”.
He additional underlined the immense isolation and burden of accountability that accompanies commanding a vessel at sea, the place each vital resolution rests solely on the captain’s shoulders.
Twenty British nationals have begun 45 days of self-isolation again within the UK following their evacuation from the ship.
WARNING TAKEN FROM INSTAGRAMCAPTION: Ruhi Çenet on board MV HondiusLINK TO PAGE: https://www.instagram.com/ruhicenet/ (Picture: ruhicenet/Instagram)
The passengers, whom well being officers warn might be ‘traumatised’, are isolating at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, after their chartered flight from Tenerife touched down at Manchester Airport on Sunday.
They have been transported underneath police escort in two white coaches to a block of self-contained flats throughout the hospital grounds, with entry to telephones to communicate with family members. None are reported to be displaying signs as but.
Well being officers convened a press convention concerning their arrival to allay public issues, stating that the danger remained “very low’ as Hantavirus is ” as Hantavirus is “not like Covid or flu”. The passengers will stay within the six-storey block of flats for 72 hours, earlier than being required to self-isolate for an extra 42 days at residence.
Professor Robin Might, chief scientific officer on the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) informed the BBC that all the evacuees are “wholesome and asymptomatic”. Nonetheless, he added they “might have to replace” the interval of isolation “relying on what the science tells us”.
Janelle Holmes, CEO of Wirral College Educating Hospital Belief, confirmed the previous passengers might be screened and constantly monitored. She revealed a specialist crew might be current all through their quarantine to supply help, together with common “welfare checks”.
“That is an understood, recognized virus, that may be managed appropriately. The chance is actually, actually low, it’s important to have actually shut contact, it is not like Covid or Flu.”
Relating to the passengers, she mentioned: “What we have learnt from previous expertise is they are going to be completely shattered. They’ve in all probability felt fairly traumatised by the entire expertise so the factor for us to do is to make it possible for they’re right here, they’re secure, they’re welcome,” she mentioned.
Display screen seize from PA Video of coaches arriving at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside, the place passengers which have been repatriated to the UK from cruise ship MV Hondius, hit by hantavirus might be quarantined to guard towards the unfold of the sickness ought to any of them be contaminated. Image date: Sunday Might 10, 2026. (Picture: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
She additional famous that ought to any passengers develop signs, they are going to be transferred to Royal Liverpool College Hospital, which is residence to the regional Tropical and Infectious Illnesses Unit. Alongside the confirmed instances, two additional suspected infections have emerged, together with a British man stranded on the distant Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha. He stays in a secure situation and is at present in isolation.
A six-strong crew of British Military paratroopers, accompanied by two medical clinicians, parachuted onto the island to bolster its two-person medical crew in caring for the person and the island’s wider inhabitants. The MoD has confirmed this marks the primary event the UK army has deployed parachuted medical personnel for humanitarian help.
It’s believed ‘affected person zero’ for the Hantavirus outbreak aboard the vessel was Leo Schilperoord, a 70 12 months outdated Dutch nationwide who visited a landfill web site whereas birdwatching within the Argentine metropolis of Ushuaia.
“It is not uncommon for birdwatchers to go to landfills as a result of there are lots of birds there,” Gaston Bretti, a photographer and native information, informed the Italian information company Ansa Latina. ” Gaston Bretti, a photographer and native information, informed the Italian information company Ansa Latina. It is a mountain of waste that immediately far exceeds the restrict initially established by the authorities.”
The virus is transmitted by means of the inhalation of aerosolised particles present in rodent droppings and urine.
Mr Schilperoord and his spouse Mirjam, aged 69, from the village of Haulerwijk, had spent a number of months journeying throughout South America earlier than boarding the ship. The couple visited Chile and Uruguay earlier than returning to Argentina in late March 2026 to embark on their expedition aboard MV Hondius.
The couple launched into the MV Hondius in Ushuaia on April 1st, and 6 days into the voyage Leo fell unwell, displaying signs together with excessive fever, complications, abdomen ache and diarrhoea. His situation worsened rapidly. He died aboard the vessel on April eleventh.
On April twenty fourth, throughout a deliberate cease at Saint Helena within the South Atlantic, Mirjam disembarked together with her husband’s physique.
She travelled to Johannesburg, South Africa, planning to board a KLM connection to the Netherlands, however airline personnel decided she was too unwell to fly. She collapsed at Johannesburg airport and died the subsequent day.
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