Australians potentially exposed to the deadly hantavirus will wear full personal protective equipment (PPE) on a flight to Perth, where they will remain in a quarantine facility for at least three weeks. There are 11 confirmed cases of hantavirus among passengers and crew members who were on board the ill-fated Dutch cruise liner MV Hondius. Three passengers—a Dutch couple and a German woman—have died from the virus.
Government Response and Quarantine Plans
Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed that six individuals, who will travel in full PPE, are in good health and have so far tested negative for the virus. “Our agencies are, and certainly I am, monitoring this outbreak very closely,” he told reporters during a press conference on Thursday. “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has secured a suitable aircraft and crew to transport the four Australian citizens, the permanent resident and one New Zealand resident from the Netherlands to Australia.”
Flight and Landing Details
The plane is scheduled to leave the Netherlands at approximately 5:30 PM AEST on Thursday and land at RAAF Base Pearce, northeast of Perth, on Friday. “Clearances and approvals have been secured,” Butler added. Upon arrival, the individuals will be transferred to a quarantine facility for at least three weeks to ensure no further spread of the virus.
Hantavirus is a severe, often fatal respiratory disease transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings. The outbreak on the MV Hondius has raised concerns about cruise ship safety and infectious disease protocols. Authorities continue to investigate the source of the infection and monitor other passengers who may have been exposed.
