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 outbreak.
The MV Hondius 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.
Consular officers on the ground in Tenerife and in Canberra had 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.
Environment Minister Murray Watt said quarantine arrangements for the arrival of the 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."
The Australian citizens and permanent resident live in NSW and Queensland.
Medical personnel will be onboard the repatriation flight to monitor the 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 gets 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.
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