90-Second Read: Hantavirus scare will not deter Filipino seafarers from joining cruise industry, says labor migration expert

DUBAI: The recent Hantavirus outbreak on a transatlantic cruise ship will not deter Filipino seafarers from jumping onboard, according to a labor migration expert. A total of 12 cases of Hantavirus have been reported and three deaths registered. Official assurances regarding the Hantavirus outbreak are enough motivation for many Filipinos who take advantage of the Middle East's superior work opportunities to prepare for cruise ship work.

The Philippines is the leading source of maritime labor, accounting for up to 30 percent of all international shipping crews. More than 589,100 Filipino seafarers were deployed in 2025, with around 137,200 working on passenger vessels. The Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius left Tierra del Fuego in Argentine Patagonia on March 20 with 149 people on board.

That is an exceptional case, it just so happened the passengers of the cruise ship were infected when they went inland and when they (re)boarded (the) MV Hondius, that's when their symptoms showed up. The Philippine government said 21 Filipino crew members had been flown to the Netherlands following health assessments while the remaining 17 remained on board the MV Hondius until it docked in Rotterdam on May 18. This is an extraordinary event and there is nothing to be worried about.