24 May 2009

Cruise ship passengers checked for swine flu

8:51 am on 24 May 2009

Cruise ship passengers had their travel plans disrupted because of swine flu checks in Sydney on Saturday.

Almost 2000 passengers and 900 crew were onboard the Dawn Princess when it arrived in Sydney after a 35-day Pacific cruise.

They were confined to the ship for up to six hours after New South Wales health officials learned that two of the passengers had been ill with flu.

Four travellers were screened and all passengers were advised to stay in Sydney overnight while swine flu tests were carried out.

The ship had stopped in the Hawaiian islands for three days in early May.

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant says it was a necessary precaution.

The ABC reports all four passengers were cleared of swine flu on Saturday night.

Currently the number of confirmed cases of swine flu across Australia stands at 14.