Pacific Dawn visits 'after dark'.

Whitsundays Online

The Pacific Dawn, the cruise ship that was sent to Willis Island because some of its crew were found to have the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, made an emergency stop in the Whitsunday Passage last night.

Officials said the ship was forced to make the emergency stop yesterday after a child suffered an arm injury and required a transfer by boat to Shute Harbour for treatment at Proserpine Hospital. Queensland Health said the child and family would be quarantined seven days.

The ship has continued on its way to Brisbane.

The Pacific Dawn was on a 10 day cruise from Sydney to the Whitsundays and Nth QLD, however it was turned away from all ports here due to the discovery of the virus on the ship.

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Pacific Dawn heads for the Whitsundays

Whitsundays Online

The 2,000 passengers on board the cruise ship Pacific Dawn have been requested by Dr Kerry Chant (NSW Chief Health Officer) to quarantine themselves on the ship for a week, however, the ship will be in the Whitsundays on Thursday morning.

Two NSW children who left the ship in Sydney have tested positive to the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, and the NSW Govt. is now urgently trying to track down 130 people who were also on board the cruise ship and displaying flu-like symptoms.

Scientists say that while the strain does not appear to be deadly, more people could be at risk because they have no immunity.

At this point in time, there are 23 confirmed cases of swine flu in Australia.

The Pacific Dawn (operated by P&O) was allowed to leave Sydney at 10.30pm last night and is currently heading north along the Australian east coast, near Byron Bay (latest live image from the ship on the left, courtesy P&O).

A spokesperson for P&O said “We have worked very closely with the NSW and Federal authorities and Pacific Dawn has sailed with the full approval of these authorities. All of our ships have highly-trained doctors and well-equipped medical centres onboard. Staff are well equipped to prevent and contain the spread of any contagious diseases."

Passengers seeking further information should call P&O Cruises on 13 24 69.

*Editors Note: It has been common practice for many years here on the island resorts to quarantine staff and/or guests for a few days when they display symptoms of an illness that could spread. The 'house quarantine' is lifted when the illness is diagnosed as 'acceptable' or the person recovers completely.

As far as we know, the Day Trips from the cruise ship into Airlie Beach on Thursday have not been cancelled.

P&O Press Release
Pacific Dawn WebCam
Full story at ABC News