New Zealand authorities have been supporting a New Zealand dual national, not normally resident in New Zealand, who has been exposed to hantavirus.
On Thursday last week, New Zealand authorities were in contact with the public health services where this person normally resides. Since then, we have alerted health authorities in the location where this person is currently. We have advised this person to remain in place and avoid physical contact with other people. They are now being supported by local health authorities. Any contact tracing and contact management of infectious diseases is carried out by local health authorities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to this person. For privacy reasons, no further information will be provided.
Separately, another New Zealander, who was exposed to hantavirus on the MV Hondius, is travelling from the Netherlands on a flight to Australia. Both consular and health officials remain in regular contact with them to provide advice and support.
The risk to New Zealand public from hantavirus remains low.
Our public health services are well positioned to support anyone returning to New Zealand following possible exposure to hantavirus. This includes the capacity to support a period of quarantine.
We are not aware of any people who may have been exposed to hantavirus who are in New Zealand. Systems are in place to ensure public health services are alerted if someone who is known to have been exposed to hantavirus travels to New Zealand.
More information about hantavirus is available on the Health New Zealand website.
