Hantavirus-Exposed Cruise Passengers Arrive in Perth for Quarantine

Six passengers from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak have arrived in Perth, Western Australia, after the government organized a special flight to repatriate them from the Netherlands. The group, consisting of four Australians, one permanent resident, and one New Zealander, landed at RAAF Pearce on Friday morning. They were immediately transported under strict health protocols to the Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience to begin a mandatory three-week quarantine period. Although Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed that all passengers tested negative for the virus and currently show no symptoms, stringent measures remain in place due to the virus's 42-day incubation period. Critical care staff with expertise in infectious disease emergencies were deployed from Darwin to manage the facility. Both the passengers and the flight crew utilized full personal protective equipment during transit. Authorities stated that this response represents one of the strongest quarantine arrangements implemented for this specific outbreak, with the duration of isolation subject to review before any release is considered.