Cork passenger tells of shock at deaths on cruise ship off Cape Verde

An Irish woman on board a cruise ship at the centre of a deadly hantavirus outbreak has told of her shock at hearing of the deaths of fellow passengers.

Author Ann Lane is one of two Irish women on board the MV Hondius, which is anchored off the coast of Cape Verde while health officials try to contain the outbreak.

Ms Lane, aged 80 from Millstreet, told The Echo: “One morning the captain came to speak to us and he said that a man who hadn’t been well had died in the night,

“They had no clue he had any sort of virus.

“We were absolutely stunned but then it started to happen again.

“His wife then died and that was pretty shocking and then someone from Northern Ireland began to be sick.” 

The deceased couple were Dutch nationals.

Another passenger - from Germany - also died and there are currently two crew members with acute respiratory symptoms.

Ms Lane, who worked with a number of politicians, including former president Mary Robinson and Labour’s Ivana Bacik, said the ship’s Dutch doctor has also taken ill. 

The doctor and a British member of the 50-plus expedition team are currently confined to their cabins.

Asked if she is worried for her own safety, Ms Lane said: “They recommend we stay in our cabins but we are not quarantined.

“We do walk about and when we go on deck, we wear masks, although this virus does not appear to be as contagious as the covid virus.

“The virus is believed to have been brought on board by a passenger.

“We are concerned, but we are actually more concerned for the doctor and the other crew member.

"I am looking forward to getting home, and I am really confident this will be over soon.

“Oceanwide, who I have travelled with five times before, has been brilliant.

“They are looking after us all very well, and they are religious at keeping us up-to-date with what is going on.” 

It is expected that the ship, which is currently anchored off Cape Verde, will sail to the Canary Islands.