Four Australian citizens and one permanent resident who were stuck on board the hantavirus-hit expedition cruise ship MV Hondius will begin their long journey home today from Spain’s Canary Islands, flying on a Government-chartered plane. The travellers are due to arrive in Perth on Tuesday before heading home to NSW and Queensland.
The five travellers were among the final passengers evacuated from the vessel in Tenerife, as their plane was the last to arrive in the Canary Islands to carry them home, the ABC reported.
The ship, carrying 146 people, was quarantined after three passengers died and eight others became ill following a hantavirus outbreak onboard. Passengers and crew were confined to cabins during the voyage as authorities worked to contain the situation.
The Australian government said the charter flight would depart Tenerife on Monday local time alongside medical personnel who would monitor passengers during the journey home. One New Zealand citizen is also onboard.
“The Australian government’s number one priority is the safety of passengers and the Australian community,” a government spokesperson said.
“The Australian government is working closely with state authorities to coordinate arrival, health and transport arrangements. Quarantine and health arrangements are managed by states in accordance with their public health requirements.”
Importantly, health authorities have stressed the broader public health risk remains low. The World Health Organization (WHO) said human-to-human transmission is rare and generally requires “close, prolonged contact”.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also attempted to reassure residents in the Canary Islands, stating that, “this is not another COVID”, according to UN News.
While authorities confirmed that the returning Aussie travellers were asymptomatic, the Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt told ABC News that the ordeal had been a “terrible situation” for those on board.
“We want to make sure Australians receive the care that they need in this situation,” Watt said.
“This is not a situation that people have walked into deliberately. And I think all Australians would want to see each other looked after in this sort of situation.”
On arrival in Perth, passengers will be transferred directly into state-managed quarantine arrangements.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Cruise health scares still trigger strong traveller memories post-pandemic. But authorities stressing the low transmission risk and tightly managed evacuation process should help reassure cautious Australian cruisers and advisors alike.
