A Dutch bird enthusiast, Leo Schilperoord, has been identified as the index case in the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship. Leo and his wife, Mirjam, embarked on the vessel after Leo visited a landfill site in Argentina. Tragically, Leo succumbed to the virus while on the ship, and Mirjam also passed away while attempting to return to the Netherlands.
The couple, residents of Haulerwijk in the Netherlands, were on a five-month journey in South America before boarding the MV Hondius. Their visit to a landfill outside Ushuaia in late March is believed to be where they contracted the Andes strain of the hantavirus.
Leo fell ill on the ship and passed away, with his body remaining onboard until the ship docked in St Helena. Mirjam, who accompanied his body to South Africa, also became ill and tragically died there. The outbreak on the MV Hondius has now affected six individuals, including three British citizens, according to the World Health Organization.
The landfill site, known as “the end of the world,” is a hotspot for birdwatching tourists due to its unique bird species but is also a breeding ground for infected rodents, according to Argentinian authorities. The tragic incident has deeply impacted the small village community of Haulerwijk, as reflected in heartfelt obituaries published in the local magazine.