Perth: Australian health authorities have extended the quarantine period for six individuals who were passengers on a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak. The quarantine has been prolonged until late June, local media reported on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the passengers will remain quarantined in Perth's suburb of Bullsbrook until June 23. The group includes four Australian citizens, one permanent resident, and one New Zealand citizen. They arrived at the Center for National Resilience in Bullsbrook on May 15.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler stated that the decision to extend the quarantine period was based on recommendations from health authorities after two additional passengers, from Spain and the Netherlands, tested positive for the infection. The passengers have been notified of the quarantine extension and "remain well," he mentioned.

Butler further explained that the six passengers were tested again in the last 24 to 36 hours, and all results were negative. The outbreak was identified as being caused by the rare Andes variant of hantavirus, which is the only strain known for human-to-human transmission, typically occurring through close contact.