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Rhodina Villanueva - The Philippine Star
May 12, 2026 | 12:00am
This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 3, 2026. An outbreak of "severe acute respiratory illness" on board a cruise ship in the Atlantic has left two people dead and a third in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa's health ministry told AFP on May 3, 2026. The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde. The patient being treated in Johannesburg tested positive for a hantavirus, a family of viruses that can cause hemorrhagic fever, South African spokesperson Foster Mohale said.
AFP
MANILA, Philippines — Thirty-eight Filipino crew members of MV Hondius, which was hit by hantavirus, are set to undergo quarantine in the Netherlands, according to the Department of Migrant Workers.
DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said 24 hotel workers on the cruise ship would be brought to the Netherlands for a 42-day quarantine.
“Upon arrival on Canary Islands, there will be a repatriation flight that has been coordinated with the shipowner based in the Netherlands. The quarantine will last up to six weeks,” Cacdac said on Sunday.
He said the remaining 14 Filipino seafarers, who serve as the vessel’s deck and engine crew, would undergo quarantine once the ship docks at the port of Rotterdam.
Cacdac said the Filipino crewmen would be fully compensated while undergoing quarantine.
“They will continue to receive their salaries and entitlements under their contract,” he said.
Cacdac said the DMW, through its AKSYON Fund, would also provide assistance to the seafarers.
“After the six-week quarantine period, all 38 seafarers will return to the Philippines,” Cacdac said.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said the Philippines is not listed among the countries affected by hantavirus.
“The seafarers were just exposed. If they will not exhibit any symptoms, that means they are negative (of the virus),” Herbosa said.
