'What's happening right now is very real.' Man documents life aboard expedition ship tied to hantavirus outbreak
Monroe resident Jake Rosmarin says passengers aboard the M/V Hondius remain under precautions as the vessel heads toward the Canary Islands following medical evacuations linked to the outbreak.
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A New York man stranded aboard an expedition cruise ship tied to a hantavirus outbreak is continuing to share updates from sea as the vessel makes its way toward Spain’s Canary Islands.
Jake Rosmarin, of Monroe, has been posting videos and photos from onboard the M/V Hondius, where passengers remain under quarantine following reports of illness aboard the ship.
In a social media update posted on Wednesday, Rosmarin said passengers needing medical care and screening had been evacuated from the vessel and transferred to medical facilities. He also said two infectious disease physicians are now on board and that no additional passengers are currently showing symptoms.
“Passengers still have access to fresh air on the outer decks, meals can be delivered directly to cabins, and everyone onboard continues to be cared for and supported,” Rosmarin wrote.
The ship had been delayed off Cape Verde due to concerns about the outbreak. Reuters reports the vessel departed on Wednesday and is expected to arrive in Tenerife within days.
Rosmarin also thanked Oceanwide Expeditions and the ship’s crew, saying they have been “doing everything they can to keep everyone safe, informed, and comfortable.”
The situation has struck a particularly personal chord for those in Monroe.
Community members flooded News 12’s Facebook page with comments identifying Rosmarin as a well-known local photographer and the son of a well-known local pediatrician. Others referenced the Rosmarin family’s longtime ties to the community through the Rosmarin camp property — a longtime family-run day camp in Monroe known to generations of local residents.
“A lot of people know him around here. Feel bad for his parents,” one commenter wrote.
“He is an amazing photographer,” another posted.
Others described Rosmarin as “a great young man” and said they were praying for everyone on board. Monroe Town Supervisor Maureen Richardson said the community is rallying around the family.
"The community is proud that you're out there doing what you love," Richardson said. "We're just hoping for the best and for your safe return."
In one of his own posts from the ship, Rosmarin wrote, “At the end of the day, we are all just people who want to stay safe and eventually return home to our families.”
In a statement on Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote that the federal government is “closely monitoring the situation” involving U.S. travelers onboard the vessel.
“Our top priority remains the health and safety of all U.S. passengers,” the statement read.
The agency said the Department of State is leading a coordinated response involving diplomatic coordination and international health authorities, while emphasizing that “the risk to the American public is extremely low.”
Passengers onboard the M/V Hondius remain quarantined as the ship heads toward Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. A few passengers have already been medically evacuated for treatment and further evaluation.
Hantavirus is a rare disease primarily spread through exposure to infected rodents, though medical experts say some rarer strains can spread person-to-person.
