Virus cluster detected in freight ship in Australian coast

A new coronavirus cluster was detected on Tuesday on a freight ship berthed in the Australian west coast port of Fremantle, raising questions about why local authorities weren't alerted to the danger.

Six of the 48 crew members from the Al-Kuwait tested positive to the virus four days after the livestock carrier arrived from the United Arab Emirates on Friday, Western Australia state Premier Mark McGowan said.

The six infected crew were transferred to hotel quarantine in the nearby city of Perth while health officials consider what to do with the remaining 42 who remain onboard, he said.

The ship's cargo of 56,000 sheep is being held at a feedlot near the port.

They were to be loaded within days and cannot he returned to farms because of quarantine restrictions, McGowan said.

Authorities expect more crew will get sick and the ship would need to be deep cleaned before it can leave.

The Kuwait-registered ship left the United Arab Emirates on May 7 and was given permission by Australia's Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment last week to berth at Fremantle, despite the ship reporting that three crew had elevated temperatures, McGowan said.

Australian Border Force gave final approval on Friday for the ship to dock on Fremantle despite one crew member running a high temperature and three crew members showing similar symptoms in the previous 15 days, the premier said.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

But the virus is highly contagious and can be spread by those with mild or no visible symptoms.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.