Seventeen American passengers from the cruise ship at the center of a recent hantavirus outbreak, along with a British national living in the United States, arrived in Omaha, Nebraska early Monday (May 11) for evaluation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s (UNMC) National Quarantine Unit. The group includes at least one passenger who tested positive for the Andes hantavirus strain.
The passengers, who were evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship docked near Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, will be monitored at the only federally funded quarantine unit in the United States. The unit is designed to safely house and observe people who may have been exposed to high-consequence infectious diseases. Nebraska Medicine officials explained that any passenger showing symptoms or testing positive will be treated in a specialized biocontainment unit, which previously cared for Ebola and COVID-19 patients.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said there have been at least nine cases linked to the ship, seven confirmed and two probable, with three deaths since April 11. Human-to-human transmission of the Andes hantavirus, though rare, is possible and is believed to have occurred on the ship. The virus is typically spread by rodents, but close contact can allow it to pass between people. The general public risk remains low, WHO said, and experts emphasized that this is “not another Covid-19.”
Passengers arriving in Nebraska will undergo a period of observation for any signs of illness. Anyone who develops symptoms will be moved to the biocontainment unit for specialized care. According to UNMC, the National Quarantine Unit offers private rooms with negative air pressure systems to prevent viral spread, along with other amenities for long-term stays.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen thanked the medical team and said, “Nebraska has a proud tradition of stepping up for our fellow Americans in moments of need, and we are fully committed to support our federal, state and local partners in this mission.” UNMC leaders said that at this time, all individuals being monitored are well and have no symptoms, but they will remain under observation for the virus’s incubation period, which can last up to 42 days. Should they remain symptom-free, most will eventually return home to continue monitoring under the guidance of state and local health agencies.
Officials are also conducting contact tracing for other passengers who disembarked earlier at different ports or traveled internationally. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is coordinating with the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure safe transport and ongoing monitoring.
The global response includes similar monitoring and isolation measures for other nationals repatriated to France, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The WHO continues to assess the outbreak as a low risk to the general population and will provide updates as new information emerges.
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