Australians evacuated from hantavirus cruise ship stranded in Netherlands amid flight refuelling delays
Australians evacuated from a deadly cruise ship outbreak are stranded abroad when they hit a major roadblock on their journey home, leaving them stranded in the Netherlands for longer than planned.
The group of four Australian citizens remain in transit in the Netherlands as authorities scramble to secure the final leg of their journey back to Perth.
The six passengers had already left the quarantined cruise ship MV Hondius and arrived in the Netherlands early yesterday morning, flying on a chartered government flight from Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands.
But despite securing a plane to take them home, authorities were unable to find a country that would allow the plane to refuel during the long journey to Western Australia, causing an unexpected delay.
They were initially told that their passage through the Netherlands would take no more than 48 hours, in accordance with strict health protocols. This deadline will now be relaxed as regulations continue.
Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands Dr. While Greg French will greet passengers at a distance upon arrival due to health precautions, medical staff will accompany them on their flight home.
Once they land at RAAF Base Pearce near Perth, they will be immediately transferred to Bullsbrook National Resilience Center for the mandatory three-week quarantine period.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the virus was “very, very rare” and human-to-human transmission was “even rarer” but authorities were taking a “precautionary approach”.
“We will be seeking further advice as we move into this three-week period,” Butler said.
“I make no apology that this is one of the most powerful approaches you will ever see in the world.”
Hantavirus will be listed under Australia’s Biosecurity Act before the group arrives, allowing for strict quarantine orders.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends follow-up for up to 42 days due to the long incubation period of the virus.
The evacuation followed an unprecedented outbreak of the rodent-borne disease that killed three people and infected scores of passengers.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for calm
“This is not another Covid. The risk to the public is also low. Therefore, they should not be afraid and panic,” Mr. Ghebreyesus said.
Health officials emphasized that the virus usually spreads through rodent feces and is not easily transmitted between humans, but that the Andean strain detected on the ship can spread in rare cases.
Global concern continues after a quarantined Italian airline passenger traveling alongside an infected cruise passenger was tested for the virus, raising fears of possible “third generation” cases if further infections emerge.
For now, officials hope the outbreak remains under control on the ship as governments continue to closely monitor passengers around the world.
