Arabic version: أستراليا تُنهِي خطط إعادة المواطنين من ركاب السفينة السياحية المصابة بفيروس هانتا

The Australian government is finalizing plans to repatriate six passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius, which has been affected by a hantavirus outbreak. According to ABC News, these passengers are currently in good health after arriving in the Netherlands.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed that five Australians and one New Zealander are “all in good health” and in “relatively good spirits” despite the ordeal, although a French national remains in critical condition overseas following the outbreak that has claimed three lives. The passengers will undergo medical assessments while in hotel quarantine in the Netherlands before being transported to Perth later this week.

Once in Australia, the passengers will be taken to the Bullsbrook quarantine facility, where they will isolate for at least three weeks. Mr. Butler emphasized the complexity of the arrangements, highlighting the need for a charter company and crew to comply with strict quarantine protocols.

Staff from the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre in Darwin will provide care for the passengers during their isolation. The minister noted that further quarantine measures might be necessary to meet the World Health Organization’s recommended 42-day isolation period for hantavirus.

Western Australia’s Health Minister Meredith Hammat assured the public that Perth’s tertiary hospitals are equipped to handle any potential infections. WA Premier Roger Cook stated that the risk to the broader community is minimal, and he urged calm among residents living near the Bullsbrook facility, which has not been used for quarantining since its opening.