Returned Australian passengers from hantavirus ship learn test results

Hantavirus test results have been returned for six passengers currently quarantined in Western Australia.

Four Australian citizens, one permanent resident and one New Zealander are currently holed up in a quarantine facility in Bullsbrook after being evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was exposed to hantavirus, killing three people and infecting several others on board.

The group of repatriated passengers were flown from Spain to the Netherlands and then returned to Australian territory.

The six passengers landed at RAAF Base Pearce, near Perth, on Friday, where they were placed in strict quarantine.

They will spend three weeks at the facility, which Health Minister Mark Butler said was the “strongest” response in the world.

“This is probably the strongest quarantine response of any country taking passengers from this cruise ship,” he told the ABC last week.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Disability and Aging confirmed that six passengers were blood tested for Andes virus and all returned negative results.

“The Australian Government’s priority remains the health and safety of the community and the welfare of repatriated travellers,” he told NewsWire.

“All passengers on board MV Hondius are in good condition.

“Blood tests returned negative results for Andes virus and none of them have developed symptoms since arriving in Australia.”

The passengers were managed “under precautionary quarantine arrangements under appropriate clinical supervision”, the spokesman said.

“All repatriated individuals were managed under strict infection prevention and control protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment,” they said.

The spokesman said there was no health risk to the Australian community.

“There are no cases of hantavirus in Australia,” they said.