As of Tuesday, May 5, the Philippine Department of Health said no Filipino crew members of the MV Hondius are sick.
MANILA, Philippines – Following the deaths of three passengers, authorities are closely monitoring a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch-flagged vessel, whose crew includes 38 Filipinos.
Hantavirus is a rare, viral infection acquired through direct contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of an infected rodent, and can cause serious respiratory illnesses. Human-to-human transmission is uncommon, but possible through close and prolonged contact.
There is no direct cure for it, so early detection and prompt medical care are important.
On Monday, May 4, cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said it was “cope with adverse medical conditions” aboard the MV Hondius, which is currently in quarantine off the coast of Cape Verde in Africa.
The operator listed a total of 149 people on board, including 87 passengers, 61 crew and one deceased passenger. At the same time, the World Health Organization (WHO) reached 147, with 88 passengers and 59 crew members.
Cape Verdean authorities were prohibiting passengers from disembarking from Monday.
No Filipino workers have been infected so far
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary General and Spokesperson Albert Domingo said on Tuesday, May 5, that none of the Filipino workers are currently sick.
“They are not sick, we do not hear (or) hear anything, so far. We are in close coordination (with the relevant authorities),” Domingo announced.
(They are not sick, we have not heard any news of Filipinos getting sick, so far. We are in close coordination with the relevant authorities.)
He added that there has been no recorded case of hantavirus in the Philippines, assuring Filipinos that there is no reason to worry.
“Preparation for this by DOH (and) our Quarantine Office is important. By order of the President, we are monitoring the situation,” Domingo said.
(The preparations of the DOH and our Quarantine Office are important. By order of the President, we are monitoring the situation.)
The Department of Migrant Workers has yet to comment on the welfare of the 38 Filipino workers. Rappler will update this story as soon as the DMW releases information.
Time of death, diseases
According to Oceanwide Voyages and WHO reports, the MV Hondius left Argentina on April 1 and planned several stops across the South Atlantic Ocean.
By April 6, the Dutch man showed symptoms of fever, headache, and mild diarrhea. He finally died of respiratory failure on April 11.
His body was returned to Saint Helena, part of the British Overseas Territory, only on April 24. His wife, who was also a passenger on the ship, accompanied his remains.
On April 27, the wife died after showing gastrointestinal symptoms, and the Netherlands later confirmed that she had been infected with hantavirus. It is not confirmed if the husband had the same infection.
On April 24, a British passenger became seriously ill with symptoms of pneumonia and was medically evacuated to South Africa, where he is in intensive care. Laboratory tests confirmed on Saturday, May 2, that he had been infected with hantavirus.
Also last Saturday, a third death was recorded when a German woman died of suspected pneumonia.
In addition, two crew members, British and Dutch nationals, were experiencing acute respiratory symptoms on Monday and required immediate medical attention.
In a Reuters reportone of the passengers was quoted as expressing grief online: “What’s happening right now is real for all of us… We’re not just headlines. We’re people with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home.”
Assessment, next steps
In a report on Monday, WHO said it has been working closely with countries involved in the investigation and next steps, including medical assessments, laboratory testing, and providing logistical support.
“The outbreak is being managed through a coordinated international response, and includes intensive surveillance, case isolation and care, medical evacuation, and laboratory testing,” the report read.
The WHO also said that the risk of a global hantavirus outbreak is low, and added that it will “continue to monitor the outbreak situation and update the risk assessment as more information becomes available.”
Oceanwide Expeditions is considering sailing to Spain’s Canary Islands for passengers and crew to finally disembark.
“Strong precautionary measures continue to be taken, including isolation measures, hygiene protocols, and medical monitoring. All passengers have been informed and are being assisted,” it said. – Rappler.com
