MANILA — None of the 38 Filipino crew members of the cruise ship M/V Hondius have been infected with the hantavirus so far, but they are set to undergo quarantine in the Netherlands, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
No Symptoms Detected
In an online press briefing late Sunday, May 10, 2026, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa confirmed that all 38 crew members remain free from the hantavirus as of their arrival in the Canary Islands. “As of now, they are all negative (from the virus). We’ll just watch them for 42 days in the Netherlands. If they do not exhibit any symptoms, they are home free,” Herbosa said.
Quarantine Protocol
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac reported that the crew will undergo a 42-day quarantine in the Netherlands. “There in the Netherlands, they (Filipino crew members) will commence with their quarantine. The quarantine period will run up to about six weeks,” Cacdac said.
Herbosa clarified that the quarantine does not imply the crew carries the virus. The 42-day period covers the usual incubation period for hantavirus. “When they are quarantined, they were just exposed. But if they do not exhibit any symptoms, that means they will be determined to be disease-free and the risk of having the virus is very low. It usually means they can go home,” he added.
Disembarkation and Travel Plans
According to Cacdac, 24 crew members who work as stewards will disembark in the Canary Islands and be flown immediately to the Netherlands. The remaining 14, employed as deck and engine crew, will sail to the Netherlands before beginning quarantine.
“What happens after the six-week quarantine period in the Netherlands? All 38 Filipino crew members will ultimately fly home to the Philippines,” Cacdac said.
Background
Earlier, a hantavirus outbreak was detected aboard the Dutch cruise ship M/V Hondius, which carried a total of 149 people, including the 38 Filipino crew members. (Anton Banal/SunStar Philippines)
