Hantavirus: DFAT officials heading to Tenerife to bring back Aussies on board rat virus cruise ship MV Hondius
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials are heading to Spain to help repatriate four Australians and one permanent resident stranded on a cruise ship following an outbreak of the deadly virus.
Experts are racing to contain an outbreak of mouse-borne hantavirus in the Andes, which has already killed three passengers aboard the MV Hondius – a Dutch couple and a German national – and infected scores of others.
The ship, with approximately 150 passengers and crew, is expected to arrive in Tenerife at noon on Sunday local time.
Passengers will be screened and deplaned according to new guidelines that have not yet been finalized by the World Health Organization and other health authorities.
While each country, including Australia, is expected to care for its own citizens, no passengers will be allowed to stay in the country or take commercial flights to it.
Our priority is the safety of the society.
The luxury cruise left Argentina in March with about 150 passengers on board and, after stops in Antarctica and other areas, headed north to the waters off Cape Verde in western Africa, where it was held briefly this week after news of the cases emerged.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said consular officials were traveling to the Spanish island to provide assistance to Australians and coordinate response efforts with local authorities and partner countries.
“We are assessing options for the safe repatriation of four Australians and permanent residents,” a DFAT spokesman said.
“Our priority is the safety of society”
The spokesman said no Australians or permanent residents were showing symptoms of the virus at this stage.
Symptoms of Andean hantavirus usually appear two to four weeks after exposure, beginning with flu-like symptoms and progressing four to 10 days later to severe respiratory distress including cough, fluid in the lungs, low blood pressure, and potential respiratory failure.
WHO says the risk to the public is low, although the Andean strain of the virus can be transmitted between humans in rare cases.
Although hantavirus infection is serious, it is not as contagious as COVID-19 or flu due to differences in how the virus spreads.
Cruise operator Oceanwide said on Thursday that there was no one on board showing signs of possible infection.
The Australian Center for Disease Control is understood to be working closely with states and territories to provide nationally coordinated advice on quarantine requirements, health monitoring and testing arrangements.
This includes ensuring the safe pickup and transfer of passengers, as well as the safety of staff supporting the transfer.
– via Reuters
