DOH MONITORS HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK ON CRUISE SHIP CARRYING 38 FILIPINOS

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday assured the public that there is currently no immediate threat to the Philippines despite reports that 38 Filipinos are among the crew members aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship linked to a suspected hantavirus outbreak in the Atlantic Ocean.

DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said the agency is closely coordinating with the World Health Organization (WHO) and international authorities as health officials continue to monitor the situation.

“The good news, according to the WHO, is that there are no reported illnesses among the Filipino crew members,” Domingo said during an interview on state television.

The Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship remains anchored off Cape Verde after several passengers fell seriously ill during the voyage. According to WHO, seven confirmed and suspected hantavirus cases have been identified so far, including three deaths and one critically ill patient undergoing treatment in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The MV Hondius was carrying 147 people composed of passengers and crew from 23 nationalities. Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship’s operator, confirmed that 38 of the 61 crew members are Filipinos.

Authorities said the vessel has been placed under quarantine while investigations continue. Local health personnel boarded the ship to assess the outbreak, while some critically ill passengers were medically evacuated.

The WHO said two cases had already been laboratory-confirmed as hantavirus infections, while five others remain under investigation. Symptoms reported included fever, gastrointestinal illness, rapid progression to pneumonia, respiratory distress, and shock.

Health experts are also investigating the possibility of limited human-to-human transmission among close contacts onboard the vessel.

Despite the alarming developments, the WHO emphasized that the global public health risk remains “low.”

Domingo also stressed that hantavirus infections remain rare and are commonly linked to exposure to rodents carrying the virus through urine or feces. Symptoms may resemble leptospirosis or dengue, including fever, body pain, and flu-like illness.

The DOH said repatriation arrangements for the Filipino crew would depend on the cruise operator and international health protocols once authorities determine it is safe for them to travel.

For now, Philippine health officials continue to monitor the situation closely while assuring the public that no hantavirus cases have been reported locally.