2,000 flu-stranded cruise passengers leave ship in Australia

SYDNEY: About 2,000 cruise ship passengers sequestered at sea for days by a H1N1 flu outbreak among the crew were allowed to disembark yesterday in Australia.

Meanwhile, new cases of the virus popped up across Asia, with health officials in the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam confirming a total of nine more people have tested positive.

Relieved passengers of the Pacific Dawn streamed off cruise ship in Sydney, with many saying they actually had fun - even though their ship was asked not to make port calls after three crew members tested positive for the virus.