Six passengers from the cruise with hantavirus will fly to Australia from the Netherlands on Thursday. All of them are in ‘good’ health and show no symptoms and recently tested negative; however, as a precaution, they will be dressed in protective gear for their journey.
4 out of the 6 are Australian nationals, one Briton who lives in Australia and a New Zealander. Special aircraft and crew have been designated for the flight due to leave the Netherlands at 0730GMT on Thursday. Expected to arrive at an airbase in Perth, Australia, where the six are instructed to quarantine for at least three weeks.
“This is one of the strongest quarantine arrangements in response to this hantavirus outbreak you will find anywhere in the world,” Health Minister Mark Butler said.
The government has yet to determine how to handle the passengers’ isolation after the initial three-week quarantine, given the virus’ potential incubation period of 42 days, the minister added.
Earlier on Wednesday, the CDC in its update stated that officials continue to monitor passengers linked to the hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship and continue to track possible exposures across the United States.
“At this moment, I want to emphasize that the risk to the general public is low,” said David Fitter, the CDC’s hantavirus response lead. “Our top priority is to the passengers that were on the ship and American communities.”
Meanwhile, the virus struck ship is headed to Netherlands for undergoing cleaning and disinfection. All passengers who disembarked the flight are being monitored closely.
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