The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday assured the public that no cases of hantavirus have been documented in the Philippines, maintaining that the overall transmission risk to the local population remains minimal.
Health Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo clarified that the virus is not a novel pathogen but rather an uncommon disease primarily transmitted through direct exposure to the waste of infected rodents.
“Ito pong hantavirus, hindi po yan bago. Ito po ay isang rare, bihira po itong sakit, na nakukuha lamang kung tayo ay mapapalapit sa dumi, o ihi, ng mga daga na may hantavirus. Sa Pilipinas po, wala po tayong naitatalang kaso,” Domingo said.
While noting that unverified historical reports date back to 1992, Domingo mentioned that health authorities are currently reviewing archival documents to verify if those past cases were indeed hantavirus infections.
The health official described the early clinical presentation of hantavirus as being highly similar to common tropical febrile illnesses.
“Pwede magkaroon ng lagnat, pananakit ng katawan. Halos kahawig niya ang lepto, ang dengue,” he added.
The DOH issued these clarifications following international reports of an Atlantic Ocean cruise ship, currently anchored in Cabo Verde, which was placed under strict quarantine measures due to a suspected outbreak of the virus.
Domingo highlighted that the 38 Filipino crew members stationed aboard the vessel are in good health and showing no signs of infection.
“Ang magandang balita, ayon po sa WHO, sa International Health Regulations, wala po silang sakit. Wala kaming nababalitaan so far. In close coordination po tayo,” Domingo said in a televised interview.
The department confirmed that the vessel is immobilized under standard safety protocols, and Philippine authorities are actively monitoring the conditions of the citizens on board for potential repatriation.
“Nakadaong po yung bapor, hindi po siya gumagalaw. Naka-quarantine po siya. Sa utos ng ating Pangulo, binabantayan po natin ang sitwasyon,” Domingo said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hantavirus infections occur when individuals inhale or have close contact with the saliva, urine, or droppings of infected rodents.
The pathogen can trigger a wide spectrum of medical complications, which may escalate to severe illness or death.