PH airports, seaports tighten border screening vs. hantavirus

Strict border screening measures are now being implemented at airports and seaports to prevent hantavirus from entering the country, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

In a video message, the DOH said it is actively coordinating with the World Health Organization, together with the Bureau of Quarantine and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, to monitor the hantavirus situation linked to the MV Hondius.

The outbreak of hantavirus — an illness that can be transmitted from rodents to humans — was reportedly detected aboard the MV Hondius, which was traveling from Ushuaia to Cape Verde.

Symptoms of the disease include fever, fatigue, and muscle aches.

Before entering the country, passengers must accomplish a health declaration through the eGovPH app, where they are required to declare the countries they have visited and indicate whether they are experiencing symptoms, the DOH said.

Upon arrival, passengers will be observed by BOQ personnel for symptoms and screened through infrared thermal scanners that detect high fever.

The DOH said passengers arriving from flagged countries or those showing symptoms would immediately be brought to a BOQ office for assessment.

At the BOQ office, passengers would be asked about their travel history and possible exposure, and would undergo physical examination.

The DOH added that passengers deemed ill would be transferred to isolation facilities and DOH hospitals, including the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, for appropriate treatment and monitoring.

The DOH earlier said the Philippines is prepared to conduct laboratory testing on the 38 Filipino crew members aboard the expedition vessel should they return home amid international monitoring over possible hantavirus exposure linked to the ship.

“Ang 38 Filipino crew mula sa nasabing cruise ship ay kukumpletuhin ang anim na linggong quarantine sa Netherlands,” the DOH said in a statement.

(“The 38 Filipino crew members from the said cruise ship will complete a six-week quarantine in the Netherlands.”)

The DOH said last week that no hantavirus cases had been recorded in the country so far in 2026.—MCG, GMA News