Australia isolates six individuals from vessel hit by hantavirus outbreak

Australia has designated a purpose-built quarantine facility, located north of Perth, to house six individuals from a cruise ship affected by the rat-borne hantavirus for a minimum of three weeks, according to a government announcement made on Monday.

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The group, comprising four Australian citizens, one permanent resident, and a New Zealander, will be accommodated at Western Australia's 500-bed Bullsbrook centre, which was initially constructed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Repatriation flights from Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands are currently being finalized, with Health Minister Mark Butler describing the operation as "complex" during a news conference.

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Australia intends to list the hantavirus disease under the country's biosecurity legislation, granting the government the authority to issue an order requiring the passengers to undergo quarantine, as stated by Minister Butler.

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The six passengers, none of whom are exhibiting symptoms of the hantavirus, will arrive at an airforce base adjacent to the quarantine facility, according to the minister.

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Minister Butler explained that the six individuals will be immediately transferred to the quarantine facility, which is situated directly next to the RAAF base, upon their arrival.

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The incubation period for the virus is 42 days, and arrangements for the passengers after the initial three-week quarantine period have yet to be determined, according to Butler.

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Minister Butler noted that some countries are only quarantining individuals from the ship for a short period before instructing them to self-isolate at home.

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However, Australia is implementing a more rigorous approach due to the increased risk of transmission posed by the long flight from Tenerife in a relatively small plane, as stated by the minister.