Australian officials have launched repatriation efforts to bring home four citizens and one permanent resident stranded aboard a hantavirus-afflicted cruise ship.
A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said officials were travelling to the Spanish-controlled Canary Islands to provide consular assistance to Australians still on the stricken vessel, and to coordinate response efforts with local authorities and partner countries.
So far, there have been eight total cases recorded, and three deaths tied to the outbreak of the deadly virus, which is typically contracted from exposure to rodent droppings, urine or saliva. The DFAT spokesperson confirmed they were not aware of any Australians who were displaying symptoms of the virus.
“We are considering options for the safe repatriation of the four Australians and [a] permanent resident. Our priority is the safety of the community,” the spokesperson said.
The luxury cruise ship and its 150 passengers are expected to arrive at the Spanish island of Tenerife, off the coast of West Africa, around midday on Sunday, local time. Passengers will be taken to a “completely isolated, cordoned-off area”, the head of Spain’s emergency services, Virginia Barcones, said.
Previously, the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius had been marooned for days off the coast of Cape Verde, in the central Atlantic Ocean, after news of the cases emerged.
The luxury cruise left Argentina in March with around 150 passengers and stopped in the Antarctic and other locations before heading north to waters off Cape Verde.
News of repatriation efforts comes days after a passenger who was aboard the cruise ship returned to Australia, according to another passenger still on the stricken vessel.
The Australian was among 23 people who left the ship at St Helena on April 21, one of whom has since tested positive for the virus and is now in hospital in Switzerland, the passenger said.
Hantavirus does not transfer easily between humans and is observed only in settings with close, prolonged contact. There are no specific drugs to treat the disease, so treatment focuses on supportive care, including putting patients on ventilators in severe cases.
No passengers are allowed to stay on Tenerife or take commercial flights home. Each nation is expected to repatriate their own citizens and residents. The US and the UK have agreed to send planes to evacuate their citizens from the cruise ship.
With AP
Cindy Yin is an urban affairs reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
