‘Most scared I’ve ever been’: Man recalls 42 days in quarantine after deadly hantavirus outbreak on ship

Jake Rosmarin was on a trip that most people could only dream about. He was traveling on board a ship to some of the world’s most remote islands, an opportunity he said that he simply could not pass up.

It had all gone to plan, until the calm seemed to turn to panic seemingly overnight.

“No one would ever think that there was a deadly virus going around the ship,” Rosmarin told sister station WCVB in an interview on Thursday.

Rosmarin, a Boston-based travel content creator, was onboard the MV Hondius, an expedition ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak, earlier this spring.

“I had this weird feeling maybe 24 hours before, and I said my worst fear right now is that we’re gonna have to quarantine on this ship,” he said.

In total, at least 13 people became sick, including 3, who died, according to the World Health Organization.

“We were all gathered in the lounge, and the captain announced that it was hantavirus on the ship, and that’s when, at least for me, panic ensued,” Rosmarin said. “Because the first thing you do when you hear about something that you don’t really know a lot about is you Google it, and as we know, googling hantavirus is a pretty scary thing to see on the internet.”

The outbreak involved a rare strain of hantavirus, which is usually spread by rats or mice, but in this case, could be transmitted from person to person.

“That week on the ship was just terrifying,” Rosmarin said. “I would wake up every morning and think I was gonna wake up from a nightmare.”

As they waited to be told what they would do next, Rosmarin said he would stay almost completely in solitude, going outside sparingly to get fresh air, and get something to eat before returning to his cabin.

“I texted my fiancé and I said I’m the most scared I’ve ever been in my life,” he said.

He began to share his experience on social media, his accounts of his vacation turned nightmare garnering international attention.

After waiting in limbo for a week, Rosmarin said they were finally transported by plane to the National Quarantine Center. Although he would have to spend weeks in quarantine, Rosmarin said he was so relieved to be somewhere he finally felt safe, where if he were to get sick, he would have access to world-class medical care.

“I never thought I would be this excited to go to Nebraska,” he said. “There was a plan — that’s all I ever wanted. I wanted a plan, and for days we just didn’t have one, and that was the stressful part.”

For 42 days, Rosmarin stayed at the National Quarantine Center, where he said he did his best to remain positive, and at times, was overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers who would reach out, sending notes and gifts.

“It really just brought out the kindness of humanity,” Rosmarin said.

Rosmarin has now returned to Boston, but said he is eager to get back out and see the world, not deterred from the traumatic situation that he said has forever changed his perspective on life.

“You can’t let fear lead your life, right? I love to travel, and I’m going to learn how to love to travel again. And the only way I’m going to do that is by put myself back out there,” Rosmarin said.