17 Pinoy crewmen quarantined

MANILA, Philippines — Seventeen Filipino crew members of MV Hondius arrived yesterday in the Netherlands and were quarantined following the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship.

The crewmen were part of the second batch of evacuation flights arranged by the Dutch government from Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands.

Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya joined Dutch health and foreign ministry officials in receiving the evacuees under strict health protocols.

Also present at the Eindhoven Airport were diplomats from Australia and New Zealand, whose nationals were evacuated from the vessel.

Upon arrival, the Filipino crewmen underwent medical tests before being transferred to quarantine facilities while awaiting repatriation.

Seventeen Filipino crew members remaining on Hondius are expected to arrive on May 17 in Rotterdam.

Four Filipino crewmen arrived on Sunday in the Netherlands.

The Philippine embassy in The Hague is coordinating with Dutch authorities and the Migrant Workers Offices in Berlin for the repatriation of all 38 Filipino crew members.