THE MIND OF THE PEOPLE – Two Singaporeans who were on the MV Hondius cruise ship are now isolated at the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID). They underwent a hantavirus test with the results still awaiting confirmation.
Quoted Mind-Rakyat.com from the Strait Times on Friday, May 8 2026, one of the 67 year old patients experienced mild symptoms in the form of a cold, while another 65 year old patient showed no symptoms. Both of them were on a flight with a confirmed hantavirus patient who later died in South Africa.
In its statement, the Singapore Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) stated that the two people were not taking part in the cruise ship trip. And the passenger who ultimately died also did not travel to Singapore.
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To date, the Global Health Organization (WHO) has recorded that five of the eight hantavirus cases on the ship have been confirmed, including three deaths. Even so, WHO assesses that the global risk remains low because hantavirus is rarely transmitted between humans.
The incubation period for hantavirus can be up to 45 days, so Singaporean patients will be closely monitored during this period.
Indonesia is alert
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The Indonesian Ministry of Health emphasized that it had coordinated with WHOa to strengthen hantavirus screening at entry points to the country.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that cases were still concentrated on cruise ships, and had not yet spread to the general population.
“Indeed, it is still concentrated on the ship. So it has not spread anywhere. What we are doing is preparing so that we have screening,” said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, as previously reported on Mind-Rakyat.com.
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The government is preparing rapid tests and PCR reagents as an anticipatory measure if there are new cases.
The main focus currently is to strengthen epidemiological surveillance so that potential spread can be detected immediately.
The Ministry of Health is collaborating with UNICEF and other international institutions to strengthen the national health system.
The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic is an important lesson so that Indonesia is not careless in facing the threat of new diseases.
The government emphasizes the importance of environmental cleanliness and avoiding contact with rodents as the main prevention.
Around 150 people were on board the MV Hondius, including passengers and crew, so the potential for cross-border spread remains.***
