MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) assured the public that there are no recorded cases of Hantavirus in the Philippines, while confirming that 38 Filipino crew members aboard a quarantined cruise ship near Africa remain in good health.

DOH Undersecretary Albert Domingo issued the clarification following reports of a cruise ship docked in Cabo Verde in the Atlantic Ocean that has been placed under quarantine due to the virus.

“Ang magandang balita, ayon po sa WHO, sa International Health Regulations, wala po silang sakit. Wala kaming nababalitaan so far. In close coordination po tayo (The good news is that, according to the World Health Organization and the International Health Regulations, no illnesses have been reported. We have not received any adverse reports so far, and we remain in close coordination with them),” Domingo said on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

He said the risk to the public in the Philippines remains very low, noting that Hantavirus is a rare disease typically transmitted through exposure to rodent urine or droppings.

“Ito pong Hantavirus, hindi po yan bago. Ito po ay isang rare, bihira po itong sakit, na nakukuha lamang kung tayo ay makalapit sa dumi, o ihi, ng mga… na may Hantavirus. Sa Pilipinas po, wala po tayong naitatalang kaso (Hantavirus is not a new condition. It is a rare disease contracted only through close contact with the droppings or urine of rodents infected with the virus. Currently, there are no recorded cases of Hantavirus in the Philippines),” he said.

Domingo added that historical records dating back to 1992 are being reviewed, but there has been no recent confirmation of local cases.

He noted that symptoms of Hantavirus often resemble other illnesses such as leptospirosis and dengue, including fever and body aches.

The Bureau of Quarantine has been placed on heightened alert under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to monitor the condition of the Filipino crew members aboard the vessel.

While repatriation remains the responsibility of the cruise ship operator, the DOH said the government continues to closely monitor the situation.

Domingo said the ship remains stationary and is following international quarantine protocols.

“Naka-daong po yung bapor, hindi po siya gumagalaw. Naka-quarantine po siya. Sa utos ng ating Pangulo, binabantayan po natin ang sitwasyon (The vessel is currently docked and remains stationary. It has been placed under quarantine, and in accordance with the president’s directive, we are closely monitoring the situation),” he said.

“Huwag po tayong mangamba. Ulitin namin, mas nababahala kami sa dami ng tuberculosis at sa bilis ng hawa ng HIV (There is no cause for alarm. We reiterate that our greater concern lies in the high prevalence of tuberculosis and the rapid transmission rate of human immunodeficiency virus),” he added.