The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, moved to calm public concerns following reports of a hantavirus outbreak aboard a luxury cruise ship in West Africa. In a television interview, DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo emphasized that the threat from the M/V Hondius remains minimal, as all cases are confined to the vessel.
"The cases are far away. The ship is docked. It is not moving. It is under quarantine," Domingo stated. He further noted that the Philippines has not recorded any hantavirus cases to date. "In the Philippines, we are not aware of any recorded cases (of hantavirus)," he added.
Despite the low risk, Domingo assured that the DOH and the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) remain vigilant. "The preparedness of the DOH and the BOQ is important. We are monitoring the situation," he said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hantavirus is a rodent-borne virus that can cause severe disease in humans. It is typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings, or saliva.
Earlier reports confirmed that three passengers of the M/V Hondius died, while several others fell ill due to a suspected hantavirus outbreak. Approximately 38 crew members of the vessel are from the Philippines.
