Australians evacuated from hantavirus-hit cruise ship likely to overstay welcome in the Netherlands
Australians being repatriated from a cruise ship struck by the deadly hantavirus outbreak remain stuck in the Netherlands as the federal government battles logistical issues to get them home.
Four Australian citizens, one permanent resident and one New Zealand citizen arrived in the Netherlands at 12.30am local time (8.30am AEST) yesterday, after they boarded a charter flight from Tenerife on Spain's Canary Islands on Monday.
A plane has now been secured to fly the group of five Australians and one Kiwi to the Perth Quarantine Centre, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has told 9News.
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The virus will be listed under the biosecurity act, with an order made for them to be quarantined at Bullsbruck Centre for National Resilience near Perth. Getty
But authorities are yet to find a country willing to allow the plane to stop for refuelling on its way to Perth.
The six passengers were told they could spend up to 48 hours transiting through The Netherlands under strict protocols before flying on to Perth.
But they are now likely to exceed that deadline, which will be relaxed, DFAT said.
Australia's Ambassador to the Netherlands Dr Greg French was on the ground as the passengers arrived yesterday and spoke with them briefly at a distance due to health protocols.
Medical professionals will be onboard the flight to Australia to monitor the six and provide assistance where necessary.
After landing at RAAF Base Pearce near Perth later this week the six will immediately be transferred to the nearby Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience.
Hantavirus will be listed under the Biosecurity Act before they arrive, and an order will be made for them to quarantine for three weeks.
Health Minister Mark Butler said while the virus was "very, very rare" with human-to-human transmission "rarer still", he's taking a "precautionary approach".
"As we move into that three-week period we will be seeking further advice," Butler said, adding that the incubation period for the virus is 42 days.
"I do make no apology for the fact this is one of the stronger approaches you'd see around the world."
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The NSW Biocontainment Centre is at Westmead Hospital in Sydney and was originally going to host the patients. Instagram
The WHO recommends a 42-day quarantine period.
UK passengers will be asked to isolate for up to 45 days but public health specialists will assess whether they can do that at home or somewhere else.
The US has only said that the uninfected passengers will be taken to the National Quarantine Unit for assessment and monitoring.
Personnel in full-body protective gear and breathing masks escorted the travellers from ship to shore in Tenerife as planes arrived to fly out passengers from more than 20 countries in an evacuation effort continuing on Monday.
Passengers are sprayed with disinfectant by Spanish government officials before boarding a plane after disembarking from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at Tenerife airport in the Canary Islands, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. AP Photo/Arturo Rodriguez
Three people have died since the outbreak began, and five people who left the ship earlier were infected.
One of 17 American passengers evacuated from the ship and flown to Nebraska also tested positive for the hantavirus but was not showing any symptoms, and another had mild symptoms, US health officials said late on Sunday (Monday AEST).
It was the first-ever case of a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, according to Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
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Passengers watch as others are disembarked from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. AP
Health officials say risk to public is low
Hantavirus usually spreads from rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between people.
But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases.
Symptoms — which can include fever, chills and muscle aches — usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.
A passenger waves to the Guardia Civil officers as they are disembarked from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Sunday, May 10, 2026. AP
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Sunday that the general public should not be worried about the outbreak.
"This is not another COVID. And the risk to the public is low. So they shouldn't be scared, and they shouldn't panic," he said.
Kerkhove said WHO was recommending passengers' home countries "have active monitoring and follow-up, which means daily health checks, either at home or in a specialised facility".
- Reported with Associated Press
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