[ad_1]
Health authorities are “confident” Australian cruisegoers potentially exposed to the deadly hantavirus are not infected, but the returnees will be decked out in full personal protective equipment for good measure as they make a mammoth flight to Australia from the Netherlands.
Four citizens, a permanent resident and a New Zealander are set to land in Perth on Friday after the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secured a charter to fly them home.
The group will undergo quarantine at a containment facility when they arrive.
Health Minister Mark Butler said on Thursday the returnees had taken a “pre-flight test” and all “tested negative”.
“I can also indicate they are all symptom-free,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“So we’re pretty confident they’re getting onto the plane without the virus, certainly without symptoms.
“But they will be subject to testing when they arrive in Australia, and they will be in full PPE during the duration of the flight so there is no risk of transmission.”
Hantavirus is rarely transmitted between humans.
Its symptoms start as flu-like, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), typically including fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and headache.
Symptoms often get worse quickly and can include coughing, shortness of breath and kidney failure.
Three people exposed in the outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship caused three deaths.
The WHO has confirmed 11 cases worldwide at the time of writing.
[ad_2]
