MANILA — The 38 Filipino crew members aboard the MV Hondius will undergo a 42-day quarantine in the Netherlands after reported hantavirus cases on the Dutch-operated cruise ship, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said.

During a joint virtual media briefing Sunday night with Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Ezzedin Tago, Cacdac said the Filipino seafarers had tested negative for hantavirus but would still be required to complete quarantine protocols.

According to Cacdac, the Filipino crew is composed of 24 stewards or hotel workers and 14 deck and engine personnel.

“Right now, the ship, as we understand, is anchored in the Tenerife port. Tenerife, Canary Islands, I think it’s the port of Granadilla. And then they will be disembarked. For today, there will be four disembarked and transported to the airport and flown to the Netherlands for quarantine,” Cacdac said.

“Tomorrow, another 20 will be flown, that’s a total of 24. The balance of 14 seafarers, kasi (because) 38 total, will be sailing toward Rotterdam. Will be bringing the ship, navigating the ship to Rotterdam, Netherlands,” he added.

The DMW chief said the Filipino seafarers would begin quarantine upon arrival in Rotterdam and would be allowed to return to the Philippines if they remain symptom-free after six weeks.

Authorities said two foreign passengers of the cruise ship were reportedly infected with hantavirus after joining a birdwatching activity in South America before boarding the vessel.

“As of now, negative sila (the Filipinos are tested negative). We’ll just watch them for 42 days in the Netherlands,” Herbosa said.

Cacdac assured the families of the Filipino crew that the seafarers would continue receiving their salaries and benefits while under quarantine.

“Yes, we’ve talked to them. Yes, they’re all in good condition and they assured us that they tested negative for the virus,” he said.

Herbosa said the Philippines has not recorded any hantavirus case and emphasized that the disease is not as transmissible as Covid-19.

He explained that hantavirus is a rare illness commonly linked to exposure to rodents, including their urine, feces, or bodily fluids.

The health secretary added that the Andes variant circulating in South America may spread through close human contact, unlike the African variant, which is mainly transmitted through rodent exposure.

Herbosa said hantavirus has a mortality rate of around 30 to 50 percent and primarily affects the lungs, leading to severe pneumonia and respiratory complications.

He added that there is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for the disease.

Quarantine remains necessary because hantavirus may incubate for up to 45 days, Herbosa said.

“If they (Filipino crew) do not exhibit any symptoms, that means they will be determined to be disease-free, and the risk of having the hantavirus is very low,” he said.

Following the incident, Cacdac said the DMW would review existing health and safety measures for Filipino seafarers working on cruise ships.

He said the Maritime Industry Tripartite Council would convene to discuss the MV Hondius case and assess possible additional protective measures for seafarers.

“Of course, we will invite DOH and the DFA to that meeting. So definitely we will take up the Hondius case in our subcommittee Maritime Industry Tripartite Council meetin, and how, among others, we could improve our standards of protection for our seafarers,” Cacdac said.

Herbosa, meanwhile, said the government is not recommending mandatory hantavirus screening for overseas Filipino workers because the virus remains rare and non-endemic in the Philippines.

Tago said Philippine diplomats in the Netherlands would continue monitoring the condition of the Filipino crew throughout the quarantine period.