A woman from Connecticut is preparing to take legal action against passengers on the hantavirus-affected cruise ship MV Hondius who do not comply with self-isolation measures. Teresa Jack has already consulted with her lawyers regarding the potential spread of the disease once passengers disembark.
Outbreak Details
Three people have died from the virus, with eight confirmed cases. The outbreak is believed to have originated from a Dutch couple who visited a landfill in Argentina before boarding the ship. Currently, 17 US citizens remain on board, while some passengers returned home before the outbreak was confirmed. At least three US states—Georgia, California, and Arizona—are monitoring individuals who may have been exposed to the virus, which carries a 50% mortality rate according to the World Health Organization.
Legal Action
Teresa has organized a lawsuit to prevent a preventable outbreak caused by individuals not self-isolating. She has received support from nearly 15,000 people who have pledged to contribute $1 million to the legal fund if necessary. Teresa, a 35-year-old musical theatre performer, stated, 'I am not a lawyer, but I am a woman with a spreadsheet. I lost too much over Covid, and we Americans are sick of everything feeling out of our control.'
She cited the US war in Iran, Trump's tariffs, and the Covid-19 pandemic as contributing factors to a sense of helplessness. Teresa lost income due to theatre closures and still feels the financial impact. She also lost loved ones to Covid and nearly died from the virus herself.
Community Support
'The American people were left defenceless during the last pandemic,' she said. 'Solidarity and community will look very different this time.' She acknowledged that the threat of a lawsuit may seem 'violently American' to Brits but emphasized that it is necessary within her culture. The lawsuit, structured as a class action, targets those who refuse to self-isolate as well as government institutions for failing to protect public health.
Neighbors of passengers have reached out to Teresa directly, pledging support. She has also been in contact with the Arizona Attorney General's Office, informing them that 'concerned citizens are prepared to pool $1 million should a preventable outbreak occur.' Following this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that passengers will be flown to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, and then transferred to the National Quarantine Centre.
Teresa concluded, 'I feel like the threat has already made a difference.'
