07.05.2026 10:34
It has emerged that there are 2 Turkish passengers on board the MV Hondius, a ship that came to prominence due to suspected hantavirus while sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, where 3 people lost their lives. Turkish birdwatcher Emin Yoğurtçuoğlu and Melike Güner shared the latest situation on the ship in a video posted from the vessel. Yoğurtçuoğlu said, 'Everything is fine. There are no new cases. No one is sick. We have evacuated our patients.'
The hantavirus panic on the Dutch-flagged passenger ship MV Hondius, sailing from Argentina in the southern Atlantic Ocean to Cabo Verde off the west coast of Africa, has made global headlines. Due to the outbreak on the ship, 3 people have died, while it was announced that 1 person continues to be treated in intensive care.
Following the deaths on the ship carrying 150 passengers, another striking detail emerged. It was learned that besides influencer Ruhi Çenet, Turkish birdwatcher and nature photographer Emin Yoğurtçuoğlu and Melike Güner were also on board.
THEY SHARED A VIDEO FROM THE SHIP
Yoğurtçuoğlu and Güner described the latest situation on the ship via a video shared on social media. Speaking in the video, Emin Yoğurtçuoğlu stated that their health condition is good and used the following expressions:
"Today is Melike's birthday. And we are on the ship now. May 6. We are departing from Praia. We are heading towards the Canary Islands. Everything is fine. There are no new cases. No patients. We have evacuated our patients. We are returning safely to the Netherlands."
3 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES
On the ship, which departed from Ushuaia, Argentina on March 20, symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and headache were first observed in a passenger. The 70-year-old passenger, reported to be Dutch, died at the hospital where he was taken on St. Helena Island.
It was announced that his wife, who showed the same symptoms, was evacuated to South Africa but could not be saved despite all interventions. Another Dutch passenger with similar complaints died on the ship.
It was stated that a 69-year-old British passenger continues to be treated in intensive care.
MEASURES INCREASED ON THE SHIP
Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of MV Hondius, announced that two crew members suspected of having hantavirus are being kept under observation on the ship for emergency intervention.
Meanwhile, at the port in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, three individuals suspected of having hantavirus were evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius and sent to the Netherlands for treatment.
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WHAT IS HANTAVIRUS?
Hantavirus is known to be mostly transmitted from rodents. The virus can be transmitted to humans through inhalation of air mixed with rodent feces, urine, and saliva, or through rodent bites.
Hantavirus, which manifests itself with fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and gastrointestinal issues, can lead to respiratory failure, internal bleeding, and kidney failure in some cases.