Eighteen Americans who returned to the United States early Monday following a deadly outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship are now quarantined and reported to be in good condition, according to public health officials.
One of the 18 individuals has tested positive for the rodent-borne virus, which originated on the MV Hondius ocean expedition vessel last month. The outbreak has claimed three lives and infected eight others among passengers and crew.
Disembarkation in the Canary Islands
More than 140 passengers and crew disembarked in the Spanish Canary Islands on Sunday, where the Americans were met by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Monday that 16 passengers, including the individual who tested positive, are in isolation at a specialist quarantine unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. These individuals are not showing symptoms and remain under observation.
Due to capacity limitations in Nebraska, two other passengers are being monitored at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. One of these individuals has received both a positive and negative test result for hantavirus but exhibits no symptoms.
Passengers in Good Spirits
Dr. Michael Wadman, Medical Director of Nebraska’s national quarantine unit, provided an update on the 15 passengers who tested negative for hantavirus. “The 15 who were welcome here were in good shape, they were in good spirits,” he said. “They definitely were tired and needed some rest, so we did a quick assessment, brought them into the unit, a very smooth, successful, safe transfer.”
The transfer followed the arrival of a chartered aircraft at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska, early Monday morning, where personnel assisted the passengers. Health officials emphasized that the passengers are doing well and remain in isolation as a precautionary measure.
This is a developing story, and authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
