Birdwatchers' trip to Argentinian dump blamed for deadly hantavirus outbreak as nation begins hunting rats
A Dutch couple and a German national have died from the virus, which has trapped more than 20 Brits aboard the MV Hondius.
Argentinian officials have said they believe a deadly outbreak of hantavirus was brought aboard a cruise ship after a Dutch couple caught the illness during a bird-watching trip to a rubbish dump.
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Both of the Dutch nationals have died, with the only other fatality from the outbreak understood to have been a German passenger.
Argentina's health ministry is now seeking to hunt down rats for capture and analysis of the hantavirus outbreak, which is borne by rodents.
In a new statement, it said "no associated cases have been identified in the country".
Read More: What is hantavirus? The mysterious disease linked to the virus-hit cruise ship
The ministry said: "It is important to note that although it is not confirmed that the transmission occurred in Argentina and that Tierra del Fuego has not reported any cases of hantavirus since mandatory reporting of the event began in 1996, these actions are part of the intensified epidemiological surveillance strategy being carried out in coordination with the jurisdictions, which are responsible for strengthening the reporting and detection of cases in their territories."
The claim came after three people with suspected hantavirus, including British crew member, Martin Anstee, were medically evacuated from the stricken cruise ship after it was refused permission to dock in the Canary Islands.
Mr Anstee and two others have been flown to the Netherlands after disembarking in Cape Verde for specialist treatment for the illness, which has killed three passengers from the ship.
The British national was serving as an expedition guide on the Dutch-flagged ship when he came down with a suspected case of the killer illness.
He told broadcasters on Wednesday evening that "I have no idea how long I'll be in hospital" from isolation.
Read More: Hantavirus cruise ship - key events from the MV Hondius outbreak so far
The evacuation comes as a French national who was not on board the cruise contracted hantavirus after taking a flight with a passenger from the ship, according to French media reports.
This would make it the first case involving someone who has never boarded the ship.
Elsewhere, the Swiss government announced a man is in hospital with the virus after previously travelling on the MV Hondius.
More than 20 Brits, including passengers and crew, are trapped on board the 353ft exploration ship which spent four days stranded off the coast of Cape Verde.
Five current cases of hantavirus have been confirmed by the World Health Organisation, including two of the most recent evacuees.
This brings the confirmed transmissions from the outbreak to eight, including the three people who have died.
On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the virus outbreak as "very serious and deeply stressful for those affected and their families", and added the Foreign Office was "working urgently" to support the UK Health Security Agency, which is leading the British response.
Officials are working to "make sure British nationals on the MV Hondius can all get safely home with proper protection for public health", she continued.
“Foreign Office consular staff are in direct contact with British nationals onboard the ship and stand ready to provide further assistance to any British national in need of support overseas 24/7."
Government ministers are in touch with the Dutch and Spanish authorities and are working to help with the medical evacuations, support British overseas territories and get UK nationals home, she added.
Spain's health ministry said on Tuesday that the MV Hondius would move to the Canary Islands, arriving in the next three or four days amid fears more passengers could become infected with the deadly rat-borne virus.
But the docking was later opposed by the regional government of the Spanish islands on the cruise from hell, where nearly 150 passengers are stuck.
"This decision is not based on any technical criteria, nor is there sufficient information to reassure the public or guarantee their safety," a spokesperson said.
Regional leader Fernando Clavijo has requested an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to discuss the matter.
"I cannot allow it to enter the Canary Islands," Mr Clavijo said.
Spanish authorities had insisted there is a "moral and legal obligation" to permit the passengers ashore after the ship's original destination, Cape Verde, did not allow it to dock.
"The World Health Organization has explained that Cape Verde is unable to carry out this operation," the health ministry said.
It added in a statement: "The Canary Islands are the closest location with the necessary capabilities. Spain has a moral and legal obligation to assist these people, among whom are also several Spanish citizens."
It said crew and passengers would be examined, treated and sent back to their respective countries after docking in the Canary Islands, at a port in either Gran Canaria or Tenerife.
The UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said on X that the Government was "putting plans in place" to help the Brits stuck on the ship.
In a post on X, Sir Keir said: “My thoughts are with those affected by the hantavirus outbreak onboard the MV Hondius.
“We are working closely with international partners to support British nationals on board and we’re putting plans in place for their safe onward travel.
“The risk to the wider public remains very low – protecting the British people is our number one priority.”
Holding back tears, US travel blogger Jake Rosmarin, a passenger on the cruise, told LBC: "We're not just a story, we're not just headlines, we're people. People with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home."
"There's a lot of uncertainty, and that's the hardest part," he said between shaky breaths."
He added that he was grateful to the crew, who had been handling the situation "to the best of their ability".
"All we want right now is to feel safe, to have clarity and to get home," he added.
The influencer boasts 31.1K followers on TikTok, where he posts travel videos.
Rosmarin has been posting about the cruise for the last two weeks. He started with a "happy embarkation day" video detailing the 35-day cruise around the "most remote islands in the world".
The ship boasts a swanky bar, dining area, library, and lecture hall with spacious cabins carrying 170 passengers.
The travel vlogger also showed shared drinking fountains and coffee stations onboard the ship.
The ship’s journey began on April 1, and a passenger died on board on April 11, Oceanwide Expeditions said.
The cause of death could not be determined on board. On April 24, this passenger was disembarked on St Helena, with his wife accompanying the repatriation. The wife became unwell during the return journey and died.
Authorities later confirmed she tested positive for a variant of hantavirus.
Oceanwide Explorations, the operator of the Hondius, said on Wednesday night: Oceanwide Expeditions continues to manage an ongoing medical situation on board m/v Hondius.
"Oceanwide Expeditions can confirm that the first of two medicalised aircraft, carrying two of the three individuals transferred from m/v Hondius earlier today, has landed in the Netherlands.
"The two individuals on board have been received by specialist medical and screening teams. The second medicalised aircraft carrying the third individual is currently experiencing a delay.
"The individual on board this aircraft remains in a stable condition. We will provide an update on the arrival of this second aircraft as soon as possible.
"Oceanwide Expeditions can confirm that m/v Hondius departed Cape Verde at 19:15 CET and is now heading north. Under the current plan, m/v Hondius will sail for the Canary Islands. This is expected to take 3-4 days. Three additional medical professionals have embarked m/v Hondius to provide optimal medical care during the crossing.
"Oceanwide Expeditions remains in close and continual discussion with relevant authorities regarding our exact point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and a precise timeline. We are unable to confirm the details of onward travel for guests at this stage.
"This is dependent on medical advice and the outcome of stringent screening procedures. Close cooperation continues with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.