Health officials are preparing to put an end to a viral nightmare experienced by multiple Australian cruise ship passengers.
A government-supported charter flight will carry four Australian citizens, one permanent resident and a New Zealand citizen to Australia from Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, after their voyage was marred by a deadly virus outbreak.
The MV Hondius ship docked in Tenerife on Sunday, after three people died and five others were confirmed to have tested positive to hantavirus, which is contracted through contact with infected rodents.
The Australian citizens and permanent resident live in NSW and Queensland.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said state health officials, who coordinate quarantine arrangements, had been working with their federal counterparts to be prepared for the travellers' arrival.
"The risk of transmission is relatively low at this stage, certainly not comparable to the coronavirus," Mr Minns said on Monday.
"Those individuals, two from NSW, will be required to quarantine when they come back to the country, but ... it's important we don't exaggerate the risk."
Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington also confirmed her state was ready to isolate the returnees and said reports from the ship had been distressing.
"Queensland Health will be working with the federal government in relation to the repatriation and the quarantining," she said.
Consular officers on the ground in Tenerife and Canberra have been closely coordinating their response efforts, a federal government spokesperson said.
The Australians onboard are expected to be some of the last passengers to disembark, with the repatriation flight likely to leave the island about 5pm local time on Monday and arrive in Perth on Tuesday.
None of the passengers being brought to Australia are believed to be displaying signs of the virus.
Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt said quarantine arrangements for the arriving passengers were still being finalised.
"It's a terrible situation that these people are in, going on a cruise expecting to have a nice holiday and finding themselves in this situation," Senator Watt told ABC TV.
"We have agreed to repatriate a small number of Australians ... arrangements are being made with the states and territories around the quarantining of these people."
Medical personnel will be onboard the repatriation flight to monitor passengers throughout their journey home and secure transportation to quarantine facilities will be in place for their arrival.
The government was focused on ensuring every Australian received the care they need, Senator Watt said.
"This is not a situation that people have walked into deliberately, and I think all Australians would want to see each other looked after in this sort of situation," he said.
