21 out of 38 Filipino crew members from hantavirus-hit ship under quarantine in Amsterdam

Out of the 38 Filipino crew members from the cruise ship MV Hondius linked to the hantavirus scare, 21 are under quarantine in Amsterdam, a report of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) said.

The report quoted Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac as saying, "“Patuloy silang minamanmanan, mino-monitor ng ating embahada, Ambassador Ed Malaya and his team, at saka yung ating (They are continuously being monitored by our embassy, Ambassador Ed Malaya and his team, and our) Labor Attaché and OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) Welfare Officer on the ground.”

In a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, Cacdac said teams from Manila, including senior officials from the DMW, Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Foreign Affairs, are closely monitoring the situation.

Three of the ship's passengers have died but the Filipino crew members have all tested negative for hantavirus.

"Despite testing negative, he said all crew members are required to undergo a 42-day quarantine as part of a precautionary health protocol.

17 FILIPINOS STILL ON BOARD

Meanwhile, PNA cited Cacdac's confirmation that 17 crew members are still on board the vessel as it heads toward Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe.

The ship is expected to arrive there on May 18. After disembarking, they will also be placed under isolation.

“Ang isang report na natanggap namin, may isang World Health Organization (WHO) doctor or group of doctors doon sa barko. So no worries kasi may mga protocols at may mga proper guidance ang mga doktor, kasama yung doktor ng World Health Organization doon sa barkong papuntang (A report we received stated that there is a WHO doctor or a group of doctors on the ship. So no worries because there are protocols and proper guidance from the doctors, including the WHO doctor on the ship going to) Rotterdam,” Cacdac said.

WHO UPDATE

According to the latest report from the World Health Organization , there are currently 11 identified cases, including eight confirmed, one inconclusive, and two probable cases.

This total includes three deaths (two confirmed and one probable).

Despite the heightened health alert, Cacdac has confirmed that all Filipino seafarers on the MV Hondius remain asymptomatic and have consistently tested negative for hantavirus.

“Pinagdadasal natin na it stays that way, lahat sila negative sa testing. Wala tayong alam na symptomatic at this stage (We are praying that it stays that way, all of them negative in testing. We don't know of any symptomatic cases at this stage),” Cacdac added.

-Paraluman News