Sydney: Six passengers have been placed in quarantine in Australia following their evacuation from the Netherlands due to a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship. These individuals were part of a group repatriated via a flight from the Netherlands, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the group consists of four Australian citizens, one permanent resident, and one New Zealander. Prior to their departure, all six passengers tested negative for hantavirus and displayed no symptoms. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed that the group is currently in good health. However, they will undergo further testing, including additional PCR tests, and will remain in quarantine for three weeks.

Minister Butler also mentioned that additional monitoring measures are under consideration, given hantavirus' incubation period of approximately 42 days. He assured that all actions would align with the World Health Organization's guidelines regarding the virus's incubation period. The flight crew and an onboard doctor are also expected to voluntarily quarantine for two weeks, as they remained in full PPE throughout the flight. The aircraft used for the evacuation will undergo decontamination procedures.

The World Health Organization confirmed on May 4 that cases of severe respiratory illness aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship were linked to a hantavirus cluster. Hantavirus, typically transmitted through infected rodents or their droppings, can, in this strain, spread between humans. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified the outbreak, involving the Andes strain of hantavirus, as a Level 3 emergency response, the lowest activation level. The outbreak has resulted in 11 reported cases and three deaths, according to WHO officials.