The Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Health are continuing to provide assistance and monitoring for the 38 Filipino crew members aboard the MV Hondius following the hantavirus outbreak linked to the Atlantic cruise ship.
Speaking to Super Radyo dzBB, DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Albert Domingo said the shipping company remains in constant communication with the overseas Filipino workers onboard.
“In high spirits pa nga daw. Alam mo naman tayong Pinoy, parang okay lang ‘yan, pero sabi namin, we are still on the lookout,” Domingo said.
“Bagamat na malakas ating kalooban, kelangan din natin ng tulong, and that is continually being offered by the DMW and DOH,” he added.
Domingo confirmed that all 38 Filipino crew members remain safe and in good condition after none of them tested positive for hantavirus.
The DOH official also urged the public not to panic over the reported outbreak.
“Huwag tayong kakabahan. ‘Yung buong mundo ay nagkakaroon ng isang kaganapan, pero natutugunan siya ng doktor,” Domingo said.
The World Health Organization earlier said the first reported hantavirus case aboard the MV Hondius may have been infected even before boarding the ship in Argentina.
The vessel departed from Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1 before eventually docking in Tenerife, Spain amid heightened international monitoring.
In a separate video message, Domingo explained that health experts are more prepared to handle hantavirus compared to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Yung COVID-19 kasi hindi natin alam yung mga ganitong impormasyon,” Domingo said.
“It was a new virus, tapos hindi alam kung paano siya gamutin, paano siya i-contain, yung mode of transmission,” he added.
According to Domingo, hantavirus is now considered a more familiar disease to global health authorities, allowing doctors to better understand its transmission and response protocols.
“Iba yung feeling namin ngayon kasi it’s a familiar virus. Alam namin kung ano siya at siguradong alam natin yung mode of transmission niya,” he said.
The government continues to coordinate with international health authorities while monitoring the condition of Filipino seafarers aboard the ship.
