Perth – Six passengers linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius have safely arrived in Australia and entered quarantine after being repatriated from the Netherlands.
The group, made up of four Australian citizens, one Australian permanent resident, and one New Zealander, travelled on a special repatriation flight that departed the Netherlands on Thursday night. The passengers had remained overseas after leaving the cruise ship, which became the centre of an international health concern following several confirmed infections and deaths linked to hantavirus.
The aircraft landed at RAAF Base Pearce, located north-east of Perth, where the passengers were transferred under police escort to the Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience. Dressed in full-body protective equipment, the travellers briefly waved to reporters as they boarded a waiting minibus.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed that all six passengers had tested negative for hantavirus before the flight and showed no symptoms of illness. He stated that they “remain in good health” but would continue to undergo detailed medical assessments and additional PCR testing while in quarantine.
The passengers are expected to remain at the quarantine facility for three weeks as a precautionary measure. The flight crew and an onboard doctor have also agreed to complete a voluntary two-week quarantine period. Authorities said everyone aboard the repatriation flight wore full personal protective equipment throughout the journey.
Health officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely because hantavirus has an incubation period of up to 42 days. Mr Butler explained that additional arrangements were being discussed with the governments of New South Wales and Queensland, where the Australian passengers are from, to manage the remainder of the monitoring period if necessary.
The World Health Organization has reported 11 cases connected to the outbreak on the MV Hondius, including three deaths. Eight cases have been laboratory confirmed, while others remain under investigation. The latest confirmed infections were identified in passengers from France and Spain.
Australian authorities say strict safety measures are being followed to protect both the passengers and the wider community.