Hantavirus travellers return: what GPs need to know
15 May 2026
According to the RACGP, there is no evidence of hantavirus cases in Australia, and the returning passengers were asymptomatic and tested negative before travel.
RACGP Specific Interests Public Health Chair Dr Peter Markey said GPs should not be alarmed by the situation, noting the risk to Australia remains very low.
The passengers are being managed in quarantine under strict public health protocols, with testing and monitoring in place on arrival.
Health authorities, including the Australian Centre for Disease Control, have stated that testing is not required for people without symptoms, and there is no evidence of transmission from asymptomatic individuals.
Hantavirus is a rare viral infection, typically spread through exposure to contaminated rodent droppings or urine, and human-to-human transmission is uncommon.
Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, cough and shortness of breath, with an incubation period of up to 42 days.
The World Health Organization has assessed the global risk as low, while monitoring the situation closely with international health agencies.
GPs are advised to continue routine assessment of returned travellers presenting with respiratory or febrile illness and escalate care where clinically indicated.
Health authorities emphasise that, at present, there are no confirmed cases of hantavirus in Australia and no evidence of increased local transmission risk.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: RACGP / newsGP