health
‘Difficult’ mission to repatriate Australian hantavirus cruise passengers en route to long Perth quarantine
Health minister Mark Butler says six people from MC Hondius plus flight crew from charter plane to be isolated for weeks
TL;DR
- Six passengers from the MV Hondius, affected by hantavirus, are being repatriated to the Netherlands before heading to Australia.
- Upon arrival in Australia, they will undergo the first three weeks of a 42-day quarantine at the Centre for National Resilience in Bullsbrook, Western Australia.
- The flight crew returning with the passengers will also be required to quarantine.
- The passengers were in good health but additional cases on the ship indicated a low risk of transmission.
- Hantavirus has been listed under Australia's Biosecurity Act to enable quarantine orders.
- The World Health Organization recommends a 42-day quarantine for travellers due to the virus's incubation period.