US health officials have confirmed that quarantine orders have been issued for two passengers who were aboard a cruise ship at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak. The individuals are currently receiving medical care at a hospital in Nebraska, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Tuesday.
CDC Issues Quarantine Orders
The orders were signed by the CDC's acting director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, according to a statement released by the agency. The two quarantined passengers are among 18 people who were on the cruise ship and are now being assessed in a specialised unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The remaining 16 passengers have been requested to remain at the facility until at least May 31.
Quarantine is a measure that separates and restricts the movement of individuals who may have been exposed to a contagious disease, allowing health authorities to monitor them for signs of illness. This step is considered unusual, and the CDC's statement did not clarify why only two of the 18 passengers were placed under quarantine orders.
Hantavirus Cases and Transmission
The World Health Organization reported last Wednesday that a total of 11 hantavirus cases linked to the cruise have been documented, including three fatalities. Laboratory tests have confirmed eight of these cases. Hantaviruses are typically transmitted when humans inhale particles from contaminated rodent droppings. However, the specific strain involved in this outbreak, known as the Andes virus, has the potential to spread between people in rare instances.
Public health officials have emphasised that the risk to the general population from the cruise ship outbreak remains low. The situation continues to be monitored closely by both US and international health authorities.
