Six hantavirus cruise passengers to start quarantine in Australia

Six passengers caught up in the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak will land Friday in Australia to start one of the strictest quarantines "anywhere in the world", Health Minister Mark Butler said. The six travellers -- four Australians, a Briton living in Australia, and a New Zealander -- tested negative before boarding the charter flight and would be "tested immediately" after it lands in Western Australia around lunchtime (0200 GMT), Butler said.

They will then be shuttled off to a purpose-built quarantine facility on the outskirts of Perth city. "They will be there for at least three weeks," Butler told national broadcaster ABC. "They are on their way back and they will be subject to one of the strongest quarantine arrangements you will see anywhere in the world." The plane left the Netherlands on Thursday, with all on board required to wear personal protective equipment. The 500-bed facility was purpose built for returning travellers during the Covid-19 pandemic, but has hardly been used.

Three people died after the rare rat-borne virus spread through passengers holidaying on the MV Hondius cruise ship, sparking a global health scare. The ship set sail from Argentina on April 1, charting a course across the Atlantic Ocean. No vaccines or specific treatments exist for the virus, but health officials have said the risk to the public is low and have dismissed comparisons to the Covid-19 pandemic. Australia has yet to determine how to handle the passengers after the initial three-week quarantine, given the virus' potential incubation period of 42 days.