Hantavirus-hit cruise ship passengers to quarantine in Perth
Australia's government said it will fly 312 Australians home to Perth for quarantine after hantavirus cases were detected aboard a luxury cruise ship off Chile. Three passengers are reported to be in serious condition. The National Health Committee held an emergency meeting.
According to the cruise line, passengers began showing fever, headache and shortness of breath after a shore excursion in Tierra del Fuego. Chile's Public Health Institute confirmed Andes virus strain infection in four cases.
Qantas said three specially-equipped repatriation flights had received Chilean airspace clearance. Passengers will be quarantined for 21 days at Yakdong Hospital in Perth. Most of the remaining 880 passengers are European Union or UK nationals, and their consulates are now announcing separate evacuation plans.
The World Health Organization said the Andes hantavirus strain has limited human-to-human transmission potential and the wider outbreak risk is considered low. Norwegian Cruise Line shares fell 5.2 percent in Frankfurt trading. The Chilean tourism industry is now facing a fresh wave of booking postponements.
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