Australia will place six cruise ship passengers linked to a hantavirus scare in quarantine for at least three weeks after arranging their return from Spain.
Passengers Moved to Bullsbrook Facility
The Australian government said the six travellers include four Australian citizens, one permanent resident, and one New Zealander.
Furthermore, authorities will keep them at Western Australia’s 500-bed Bullsbrook quarantine centre, located north of Perth.
The facility was originally built during the COVID-19 pandemic to handle public health emergencies.
Meanwhile, none of the six passengers has shown symptoms of hantavirus.
Flights From Spain Still Ongoing
Health Minister Mark Butler said officials were still finalising repatriation flights from Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands.
He described the evacuation process as complex because of logistics and health protocols.
Consequently, the passengers will land at an airforce base close to the quarantine centre once flights are ready.
Butler said authorities would move them directly from the base into the facility.
Government Activates Biosecurity Powers
In response, Australia will classify hantavirus under its biosecurity laws.
That move gives the government legal power to issue quarantine orders for the affected passengers.
Furthermore, officials said the measure forms part of efforts to prevent any possible public health risk.
Quarantine May Extend Beyond Three Weeks
Minister Butler said the virus has an incubation period of 42 days.
However, the government has only confirmed an initial three-week quarantine at this stage.
Authorities said they will decide later what steps to take after the first quarantine period ends.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rodent-borne disease that can infect humans through exposure to infected rodent waste or contaminated areas.
Symptoms may include fever, headache, body pain, dizziness, and breathing problems in severe cases.
