🇦🇺 Australia

Key facts

• Headcount 6 passengers: 4 Australian nationals + 1 permanent resident + 1 New Zealander
• Confinement Quarantine at Bullsbrook centre, former COVID quarantine facility on Perth's outskirts
• Duration Initially at least 21 days (3 weeks) from the 15 May arrival; extended to late June 2026 on the advice of Federal Health Minister Mark Butler (ABC News / AP, 28 May 2026)
• Flight From Tenerife (Canary Islands) to a south-western Australian air force base adjacent to the quarantine centre
• Health status No symptomatic passenger at time of announcement
• Announcement Press conference by Health Minister Mark Butler, Monday 11 May 2026

Health authority

Australian Department of Health and Aged Care (Mark Butler) (Australian Department of Health) coordinates the response for MV Hondius passengers returning to Australia.

Official reference page

Local news

Press articles mentioning Australia, in all languages covered by our news monitor.

In English (or local language)

• June 22, 2026 'We've been looked after': Hantavirus cruise passengers out of quarantine - Australian Broadcasting Corporation Australian Broadcasting Corporation · GB
• May 28, 2026 Hantavirus cruise ship passengers have WA quarantine period extended - Australian Broadcasting Corporation Australian Broadcasting Corporation · US
• May 18, 2026 Hantavirus-hit cruise ship docks for disinfection - Australian Broadcasting Corporation Australian Broadcasting Corporation · GB
• May 15, 2026 Six passengers in quarantine in Australia after evacuation from hantavirus cruise ship - SBS Australia SBS Australia · GB
• May 15, 2026 6 passengers from hantavirus-hit cruise ship arrive in Australia for 3-week quarantine - PBS PBS · GB
• May 14, 2026 Australians from hantavirus cruise ship fly out of Netherlands in full PPE after plane and crew secured The Guardian — World · GB
• May 11, 2026 Australia to quarantine six people from hantavirus cruise ship - The Independent The Independent · GB
• May 11, 2026 Hantavirus-hit cruise ship passengers to quarantine in Perth - Australian Broadcasting Corporation Australian Broadcasting Corporation · GB
• May 10, 2026 Australia charters flight to bring nationals home from hantavirus-stricken luxury cruise The Guardian — World · GB
• May 9, 2026 Hantavirus: Australia readies to repatriate citizens aboard virus-plagued cruise ship - Nine.com.au Nine.com.au · GB
• May 7, 2026 More hantavirus cases expected as passengers prepare to disembark ship - Australian Broadcasting Corporation Australian Broadcasting Corporation · GB
• May 5, 2026 What we know about hantavirus - Australian Broadcasting Corporation Australian Broadcasting Corporation · GB

Sources

• Le Monde Live — En Australie, six passagers du Hondius vont être placés à l'isolement
• Australia extends quarantine of 6 passengers of hantavirus-hit cruise to late June (WAFA — dépêche AP, 28 mai 2026)