Updated June 5, 2026 01:12AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Jake Rosmarin<\/a> is a New York-based travel influencer who is in federally mandated quarantine after being aboard the MV Hondius, a 353-foot ship built for polar expeditions to the Arctic. On May 2, 20<\/i>26, s<\/i>om<\/i>e passengers experienced severe respiratory issues, and three deaths in total have been reported as of May 13. It was confirmed that the Andes hantavirus was responsible. To date, some passengers in the U.S. have been released to continue quarantining at home, but Rosmarin and a dozen other Americans are staying at a facility in Nebraska. Rosmarin spoke with Outside about how he\u2019s navigating life indoors, plus what he\u2019s doing to stay connected with nature while stuck within four walls. This is his story as told to health journalist Korin Miller.<\/i> The captain\u2019s sullen face belied his matter-of-fact tone. I couldn\u2019t believe what I was hearing. He told us that a passenger aboard the ship died. I, along with the other 146 passengers aboard the MV Hondius<\/a> were tightly packed inside the lounge on deck five of the ship when the captain delivered the news. It was less than two weeks into our month-long expedition across the South Atlantic Ocean. The journey included stops in Argentina and Cape Verde, a group of islands off the west coast of Africa, as well as several islands, including the active volcanic Nightingale Island, which is remote and uninhabited.<\/p>\n Someone just died? <\/i>I thought. That news was unpleasant to hear. But I wasn\u2019t afraid yet, as the death was originally believed to be due to natural causes.\u00a0A few days later, we learned that another person had passed. Wait,<\/i> another person is dead?<\/i> I thought to myself. That was concerning. Not long after, I found out a third person was in critical condition. As a travel influencer, I\u2019m used to being away from home for long periods. But I suddenly felt very lonely\u2014and worried.<\/p>\n I travel for a living and have been a full-time travel influencer for three years. I\u2019ve been to Antarctica, Iceland, and Zimbabwe, among many other places. I\u2019ve also visited all seven Wonders of the World. Those experiences were fun, exhilarating, and sometimes a little nerve-racking. But I\u2019ve never felt fear, real fear, until things went south on the MV Hondius.<\/p>\n Things got really scary when we learned that the cause of these sudden deaths and serious illnesses could be due to the Andes hantavirus. The Andes hantavirus has origins in South America and is typically spread by rodents<\/a>. It\u2019s also the only form of the deadly hantavirus that\u2019s transmitted between humans and has a mortality rate of up to 50 percent, making it deadlier than COVID-19<\/a>. It can remain in an infected person and cause symptoms such as nausea, fever, chills, and muscle aches for up to 42 days. Needless to say, it\u2019s horrifying\u2014and it was on our ship.<\/p>\n While we weren\u2019t ordered to be in complete confinement in our rooms at this point, I mostly stayed in mine. I would leave for ten to 15 minutes a day to quickly grab breakfast, where I\u2019d get enough food for lunch as well. I\u2019d also try to snatch a breath of fresh air.<\/p>\n As soon as I got back to my room, I would take off my clothes and shower. This ritual, I presume, is a bit of a trauma response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two days after we found out that the Andes hantavirus was definitely behind the deaths, the ship\u2019s crew officially recommended that we remain in our rooms. (I think it was two days later. To be honest, my brain is fuzzy on the timeline, as this experience has been traumatizing.)<\/p>\n There were so many unknowns. We didn\u2019t know when sick passengers would be able to leave the ship, and health officials in Cape Verde, our closest point of land, were not cooperating. It felt like no one would help us. Or maybe no one knew how<\/em> to help us.<\/p>\n We didn\u2019t know until the night before leaving the ship that we would be allowed to get off at Tenerife<\/a>, one of the islands that make up the Canaries, located off the northwest coast of Africa\u2019s mainland. I saw in the media that Americans were headed to the state of Nebraska for quarantine\u2014I had never been so excited to go to Nebraska. I felt relieved that there was a plan in place.<\/p>\n Things moved quickly from there. We were all given a bag that was only a bit bigger than a plastic shopping bag. My priority was getting my camera equipment off the boat because that was crucial for my job. I had to make tough packing decisions and left behind a lot of souvenirs I had bought, along with clothes. I stuffed everything I could into my backpack, including some toiletries and a few pairs of underwear. Before exiting the ship, I layered on two sweatshirts and pulled on a pair of pants.<\/p>\n We all had to wear plastic garb around our bodies, but it was optional to put on a head covering. I put mine on, along with a KN95 mask. I was mentally prepared for what would happen next because of what I\u2019d seen with COVID-19. But even then, it was surreal.<\/p>\n People who interacted with us were in full hazmat gear, and some had gas masks on their faces. It felt like we were in a movie. We were brought straight off the ship and were able to leave the island without border control, which was a first for me. They just asked for our names and checked them off. We were then shuffled onto buses to head to the airport. On the plane bound for Nebraska, there was at least one seat between each passenger. Every member of the flight crew on board was covered from head to toe.<\/p>\n When we arrived in Nebraska, we were taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center<\/a> in Omaha. The medical personnel divvied us up into groups of five. Each group was accompanied by two doctors donning hazmat suits.<\/p>\n Originally, there were 18 Americans quarantining in Nebraska, each in our own rooms. (The other passengers on the ship are quarantining in their home countries.) Five of the American passengers have been allowed to enter home quarantine under the supervision of their local authorities.<\/p>\n Because the Andes hantavirus has such a long potential incubation period, we\u2019re all cooped up here for 42 days. (We were told that Day One was the day we got off the ship.) Two people contested the quarantine, and we later learned that we\u2019re required to stay here by the federal government. I was voluntarily staying regardless. I think it\u2019s the right thing for my family, friends, and the general public. Plus, if something goes wrong, I have access to exceptional medical care.<\/p>\n As of Friday, June 5, 2026, I\u2019m 26 days into my quarantine. I\u2019ve only left my room (which only has one window that doesn\u2019t open) once, and that was to go to a shelter during a tornado warning. Other than that, I only have limited interactions with others while wearing a mask.<\/p>\n Someone will drop meals outside my door, and sometimes they\u2019ll ask if I need anything. A phlebotomist, fully covered, of course, will occasionally come into my room to draw blood. After interacting with me, they discard the old gear and suit up again before heading to the next room.<\/p>\n I haven\u2019t had fresh air in what feels like forever, which is wild, as someone who usually spends a lot of time in nature. I started taking vitamin D the other day since I\u2019m not getting any real sunlight. Alas, I\u2019m just trying to do whatever I can to stay busy and positive. Fortunately, there\u2019s exercise equipment in my room. My daily routine involves riding on a stationary bike and using the treadmill, cleaning my room, and working, which means sharing videos of my isolation, talking to brands, and posting content. The busier I keep myself, the faster these days fly by. I\u2019ve been looking at a lot of photos from my trip and sharing photos and videos on Instagram of the unique animals and moments in nature I experienced on the expedition.<\/p>\n It sucks to not be able to go outside because I\u2019ve always had a close relationship with the outdoors. I grew up on a lake, close to the Appalachian Trail, and hiked it a lot. I always liked stargazing, too. One of my friends sent me a projector that blasts the universe and stars on my ceiling to remind me of those days. Reflecting back on my time outside really keeps my mental health in decent enough shape. I keep photos from the trip up on my room walls to help me remember how amazing it was.\u00a0I am constantly reminding myself that I went on the trip of a lifetime, and even the horrible way it ended doesn\u2019t change that.<\/p>\n I was in a really dark place on that ship, and the support of my family and friends helped me through it. Changing my perspective and accepting the reality of the situation has gone a long way toward helping me get through this with a positive mindset.<\/p>\n Though I have 16 days left in quarantine, I have big plans for when I get out. I want to give my fianc\u00e9, family, and friends the biggest hugs. I\u2019m so excited for those first hugs. I\u2019m also planning to spend a lot of time outdoors. This experience has shown me how special nature is\u2014and I can\u2019t wait to enjoy it again.<\/p>\n Want more\u00a0Outside<\/i>\u00a0health stories?\u00a0Sign up for the Bodywork newsletter<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n
<\/i><\/p>\nNo One Knew If or When Help Was Coming<\/h2>\n
For American Passengers, Nebraska Was the Final Stop<\/h2>\n
The Quarantine Period Is 42 Days<\/h2>\n
I Haven\u2019t Been Outside in Weeks. Here\u2019s How I\u2019m Maintaining My Sanity.<\/h2>\n
What\u2019s Next for Me?<\/h2>\n