6 people from hantavirus-hit ship arrive in Australian quarantine
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Six passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius, affected by a hantavirus outbreak, arrived in Australia for a quarantine expected to last at least three weeks at the Bullsbrook facility near Perth.
- The Australian government is implementing one of the world’s strictest quarantine measures to prevent any transmission of the virus into the community.
- The passengers, including five Australians and one New Zealand citizen, tested negative before departure and will undergo further health assessments during quarantine.
- The MV Hondius was on a cruise from Argentina to the Antarctic and South Atlantic islands when the outbreak occurred, resulting in 11 cases and three deaths.
- Australian Health Minister Mark Butler noted that decisions on precautions for the full 42-day potential incubation period identified by WHO are still pending.