Passengers onboard the hantavirus-affected vessel share their experiences, outlining conditions amid the ongoing situation.

Two of the five French travelers aboard the MV «Hantius», a ship impacted by hantavirus cases, have chosen to communicate their perspective via an email sent to France Inter on Thursday.

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Julia and Roland, a retired couple in their sixties, depict a situation much more composed than external reports imply. “There is no panic on board,” they state, adding that it is “unnecessary to overdramatize” the events.

They report no newly confirmed cases and stable conditions for the other three French passengers as well as for the remaining tourists and crew members, despite recent reports of suspected cases.

The couple note that “a considerable psychological relief” followed the evacuation of infected individuals. So far, three fatalities have been recorded, and five infected passengers were evacuated earlier.

Onboard life, they mention, continues to be “almost normal.” Passengers remain able to socialize, though in small groups and while maintaining distance, with masks mandated in communal areas. Meals are served in the dining room under strict distancing protocols.

They also highlight the active involvement of French authorities. “We maintain contact with the ministry’s crisis unit, which has reached out to every French citizen aboard and provided emergency hotlines, including psychological assistance,” they wrote.

In their note, Julia and Roland emphasized that this is not a luxury cruise but a scientific expedition driven by passion, uniting specialists such as ornithologists, historians, geographers, botanists, as well as experts in cetaceans and astronomy.

The vessel, which departed Ushuaïa on April 1 heading for Cape Verde, is currently en route to Tenerife, where it is expected to dock and initiate the evacuation of the remaining passengers.