A decision has been taken to quarantine six passengers of a cruise ship affected by Hantavirus. They were sent to Australia on Friday. These infected people, who will be kept in quarantine for at least three weeks, will not be allowed to meet anyone. The cruise ship on which the Hantavirus cases have been reported has been identified as the MV Hondius.
What did Australia’s Health Minister say?
Passengers quarantined due to Hantavirus were flown to Australia from the Netherlands on a Gulfstream business jet. The aircraft landed at RAAF Base Pearce outside Perth, Western Australia. Passengers, crew and a doctor were taken by bus to the Bullsbrook quarantine facility. Australian Health Minister Mark Butler said the government would implement one of the strongest quarantine responses in the world. He said that passengers returning from America and European countries will be kept in quarantine for a few days.
Five Australians and one New Zealand citizen are among the infected.
It is noteworthy that in view of the dangers associated with Hantavirus, Australia has taken a strict stance to prevent the risk of any spread of the virus. Five Australians and one New Zealand citizen will be kept in the quarantine center for three weeks. This center was constructed in the year 2022 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
What did WHO say on investigation and prevention?
What precautions should be taken to prevent Hantavirus? Regarding this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the period of 42 days after the infection is confirmed is the most sensitive. No decision has been taken yet on what precautions need to be taken for the remaining period.
How is the situation in America?
The initial test reports of the six passengers who have been quarantined in Australia were negative. The results of the test for virus infection before leaving the Netherlands were negative. The doctor had assessed him during the flight itself. On the instructions of health officials in the US, two travelers have been sent to the National Quarantine Center in Omaha.
Virus outbreak on ship and three deaths
Kayla Thomas, spokeswoman for the US Department of Medicine in Nebraska, said the passengers brought to Omaha had been medically cleared to travel. Initially only one passenger on the ship was found positive, but his test report later came back negative. The cruise ship – MV Hondius was on a voyage from Argentina to the Antarctic and islands of the South Atlantic. The hantavirus outbreak came to light when 11 cases were reported on the ship. Three of these people also died. The ship is returning to the Netherlands after all passengers and crew were sent to quarantine in Australia.