Netherlands: The Department of Health (DOH) announced that 38 Filipinos currently quarantined in the Netherlands due to exposure to hantavirus on the MV Hondius are in good condition and have not contracted the virus. This information was shared by DOH Undersecretary Albert Domingo during an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa received the updates directly from Netherlands Health Minister Sophie Hermans during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to Philippines News Agency, Domingo conveyed relief that none of the quarantined individuals have tested positive for hantavirus. Their quarantine is expected to conclude by mid-June. He credited international cooperation, particularly with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Netherlands, for effectively managing the situation and safeguarding the health of the Filipinos involved.

The crew members aboard the MV Hondius arrived in the Netherlands in mid-May to begin their six-week quarantine. Some may return to work after quarantine, while others might seek repatriation. The WHO reported that the hantavirus outbreak linked to the ship has resulted in 13 confirmed cases, including three fatalities, with additional cases identified in Canada, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Hantavirus infections, as explained by the WHO, originate from zoonotic viruses typically found in rodents but can be transmitted to humans. These infections can lead to severe illness and are sometimes fatal, with variations in severity depending on the virus strain and geographic location. The recent outbreak was traced to the Andes hantavirus, known for its capability of human-to-human transmission. Despite the outbreak, the WHO considers the global risk to be low but continues to monitor the situation closely.