Twenty-four of the 38 Filipino crew members of the cruise ship MV Hondius, which was recently affected by a hantavirus outbreak, will soon be repatriated to the Netherlands to undergo a six-week quarantine, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Sunday.
In a virtual briefing, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the 38 Filipino crew onboard the vessel are composed of 24 hotel staff and 14 deck and engine personnel.
He added that the first batch of 24 hotel staff will be repatriated in two waves—four workers on May 10 and 20 more on May 11.
“The repatriation to the Netherlands in the next 24 hours today and tomorrow. There will be 24, 4 today [May 10] and [20] tomorrow [May 11] seafarers who will be boarding repatriation flights for the Netherlands. That's a total of 24, 4 today, 20 tomorrow,” Cacdac said.
“There in the Netherlands, they will commence their quarantine. Quarantine period which will run-up to about 6 weeks,” he added.
The remaining 14 Filipino crew members will stay aboard the vessel as it sails to Rotterdam, Netherlands. Upon arrival at the port, they will also undergo the same quarantine period.
“There will be 14, the deck and engine crew will set sail for the Rotterdam Netherlands to bring the ship to port in Rotterdam, Netherlands. And upon arrival of the ship at port the 14 crew will likewise commence their own quarantine pursuant to the quarantine period of 6-weeks,” he said.
After completing the quarantine, all the Filipino crew members will be sent back to the Philippines.
“Now, what happens after the six-week quarantine period to the Netherlands is that all 38 Filipino crew will ultimately fly home to the Philippines,” Cacdac added.
The DMW said the families of the Filipino crew in the Philippines have already been informed of their condition and the ongoing repatriation and quarantine arrangements.
During the same virtual briefing, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said all Filipino crew members initially tested negative for hantavirus.
However, he emphasized the need for strict monitoring due to the virus’ incubation period, which can last up to 45 days after exposure.
The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) have coordinated assistance for the affected seafarers. The agencies also assured that the shipowner will shoulder the workers’ salaries and other benefits during the ongoing health protocols.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hantavirus infections can be transmitted through contact with infected rodents or contaminated environments, and early isolation is critical in preventing further spread.
