90-Second Read: Breaking: Some Hantavirus cruise passengers released after 42 days in Perth quarantine

Six passengers from Australia and NZ linked to the deadly MV Hondius Hantavirus outbreak have completed 42 days of quarantine in Perth and been cleared to return home. Six people who were on board a cruise ship at the centre of a deadly Hantavirus outbreak have been released from quarantine after 42 days living in isolation. The group had been on board the MV Hondius, a cruise ship bound for Antarctica, when an outbreak of Hantavirus spread on board in April, ultimately killing three people. The four Australian citizens, one permanent resident and one New Zealander have been living at a centre originally built for housing COVID-19 patients on the outer fringes of Perth after arriving in the city on May 15.

The Australian government said it was supporting Australian passengers to return to their home states today by assisting with transport to the airport and arranging flights. Australian passenger Peter Marsh, who spoke exclusively to the ABC from inside the quarantine centre, said he would "absolutely" do it all again to be able to see what he did on the cruise. The passengers pictured arriving at the quarantine centre in May dressed in full PPE. Mr Marsh was eagerly awaiting the reunion with his family.

The MV Hondius leaving Praia, Cabo Verde, on May 6, almost a week before passengers disembarked in the Canary Islands. We went to South Georgia, which is just one of the most wonderful places on Earth … Then going through the islands of Tristan da Cunha and St Helena and Ascension Island were all wonderful. Peter Marsh is at Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean. Helping to break up the long quarantine were daily walks around the ground, an opportunity to spot birds.