New Zealanders Quarantined in Australia After Andes Hantavirus Exposure on Cruise Ship

Health authorities are managing an Andes hantavirus exposure involving New Zealand passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship. The virus, carried by rodents, was likely contracted while passengers were bird‑watching in Argentina. One New Zealander and five others are being repatriated to Australia, where they will undergo a minimum three‑week quarantine at a specialised facility near Perth. None of the travellers have shown symptoms.

The Ministry of Health is coordinating with the World Health Organization, which has assessed the global risk as low and the specific risk to New Zealand as low. Hantavirus is a rare illness that requires prolonged close contact to spread and is not easily transmitted between people, unlike COVID‑19. Travelers are advised to follow local health guidance.

The outbreak remains isolated, with no indication of wider community transmission.