MV Hondius: the ice-breaking expedition cruise hit with hantavirus cases

Polar explorer vessel stuck off coast of Cape Verde usually carries passengers to remote and nature-rich areas What is hantavirus, the infection thought to have killed three on cruise ship? With a fortified hull that can break through ice, the MV Hondius – the scene of a suspected hantavirus outbreak – is not the average cruise ship. The 107-metre polar explorer vessel is small, nimble and made for touring the natural wonders of Arctic and Antarctic waters. In place of the amusement arcades, ballrooms and deck-top waterparks that may be found on larger vessels, such as those where thousands became marooned during the Covid pandemic , the Hondius has an open observation lounge and lecture room in which biologists, geologists and glaciologists give lectures. Continue reading...

Original source: Guardian