Memories and Fears of the Only Argentine Passenger on the Hantavirus Outbreak Cruise Ship

From the newsroom at La Nación, we bring you the personal account of Carlos Ferello, an Argentine engineer whose recent expedition cruise turned into a harrowing ordeal due to a hantavirus outbreak. Ferello, 74, was the sole Argentine passenger aboard the MV Hondius, a vessel that became the center of an international health alert after cases of the Andes virus variant of hantavirus emerged.

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It was an unforgettable trip for several reasons: because it was beautiful and also because of everything that happened, you can't forget that.

Ferello’s journey, which began in Ushuaia and was meant to conclude in Cape Verde, was dramatically altered. The outbreak forced a diversion and intervention by global health authorities, highlighting the risks associated with travel to remote regions. His experience underscores the unpredictable nature of expeditions to isolated locales like the South Atlantic islands, which he sought out for their unique appeal over conventional tourism.

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I have always liked this type of tourism; I am not too interested in city tourism, except for very specific places like Egypt or Rome. Two years ago I had already done the Antarctic crossings with this company and I loved it. I always look for these experiences, like sailing or diving.

Despite the terrifying circumstances, Ferello's narrative is one of resilience. He described the trip as 'unforgettable,' not just for the stunning landscapes of places like South Georgia and Tristan da Cunha, but also for the crisis that unfolded. He shared details of the daily routine on board – lectures, excursions, and communal meals – which were abruptly overshadowed by the health emergency and subsequent isolation.

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We were about 90 passengers, from 23 different nationalities. 80% were ornithologists or bird watchers. They traveled to take photos and observe seabirds in Georgia, on the islands and at sea. I had nothing to do with that. I like to sail, be at sea and enjoy life on board.

His account, shared with La Nación, provides a human perspective on a significant public health event. While international organizations managed the crisis, Ferello’s firsthand experience offers a glimpse into the fear, uncertainty, and eventual isolation faced by passengers. His safe disembarkation and current preventive isolation in Amsterdam mark the end of a deeply impactful, albeit challenging, voyage.

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We were woken up early, around 7:30. At 8 we had breakfast and then there were talks of all kinds: astronomy, wildlife, marine life, birds. They tried to make the trip entertaining. At 12 we had lunch and in the afternoon they could show a movie or have another talk. At 7 PM we had dinner and before sleeping there was always a meeting where they informed us what would happen the next day, if we were going to disembark on an island and how everything would be.