As well as feeling sad for the families of those who’ve lost their lives, I really feel for all the poor folk quarantined on the MV Hondius cruise ship, who must be horribly scared that they might catch – and possibly die from, Hantavirus. Their predicament brings back memories of our own lockdowns during the pandemic, doesn’t it?

 

But back then, at least the majority of us were at least able to spend the time at home, collectively looking after ourselves and those living/sharing with us, going out of our way to ensure that we kept one another safe and doing our best to avoid becoming ‘stir crazy’.

 

Those on the ship are at the mercy of the doctors, along with the ‘hospitality’ team: the cleaners, the cooks and other kitchen staff along with those who are replenishing the disposables and bringing food and drinks to the cabins. I wonder how many passengers are reluctant to eat in case those involved in their meals’ preparation and delivery are carriers who’ll infect them? I’m sure they’ll be wondering: “Are they infected, how’s their general hygiene & have they washed their hands properly?”

 

You couldn’t really devise a better advertisement for World Handwashing Day, which was marked this week, could you? Although it’s in year 18 and for many of us learning proper handwashing skills from toddler age was the norm, for others it’s still something that’s ignored or forgotten – and we mustn’t forget those who simply don’t have the facilities or the products required to do a proper job.

 

The talk regarding the ship’s outbreak is that ‘twitchers’, who visited a landfill site in Argentina to take photographs of birds, may have been to blame in bringing the virus onboard. Now I love birds but I can’t imagine wanting to visit a landfill site just to be able to get that bit closer to some rare birds and take a few good pictures, can you?

 

The UK Health Security Agency says that Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents such as mice and rats, which are transmitted by their droppings and urine, and that infections in humans tend to occur in places where people and rodents coexist. This is most commonly in rural, agricultural settings along with cleaning sheds, barns and holiday homes where rodents might have nested. I hadn’t been aware of that and will take extra care to clean my hands even more thoroughly in future, whenever I’ve had to rescue a frightened mouse from my cats!

 

I do hope that everyone still onboard the MV Hondius manages to keep this Hantavirus at bay and can return home safely, very soon…