38 Filipinos from hantavirus-hit MV Hondius to finish quarantine on June 18 —DMW

The 38 Filipino crew members of MV Hondius, where hantavirus cases have been reported, will finish their quarantine on June 18 after they all tested negative for the virus, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Sunday.

A team from the DMW, accompanied by Vienna Labor Attaché Delia Palomar, recently met with the representatives from ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions and manning agency Wagenborg.

"Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that all 38 Filipino crew members have tested negative for Hantavirus, remained asymptomatic, and are receiving proper care under close medical monitoring," the DMW said in a statement.

"The company also assured that the crew members will receive full compensation during and even after the mandatory six-week quarantine period and will be repatriated once cleared by Dutch health authorities," the department added. "The quarantine period ends on June 18, 2026."

The DMW already confirmed earlier that no one among the Filipino staff under quarantine in the Netherlands has tested positive for the virus, which killed three others on the ship.

READ: EXPLAINER: Where did the hantavirus come from?

Hantavirus is typically transmitted from rodents to humans. However, the WHO noted there were no reported sightings of rats aboard the ship, raising the possibility of rare human-to-human transmission.

Health experts say such transmission may occur through close and prolonged contact, particularly involving the Andes strain of hantavirus, which is found in parts of Latin America.

This region includes areas visited by the cruise ship and the Dutch couple before boarding.—LDF, GMA News