Nebraska hospital staff tries to make Americans exposed to hantavirus comfortable

Key Points:

• Eighteen American passengers exposed to hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship are quarantined at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, with none currently showing symptoms, but the CDC has not confirmed if the full 42-day quarantine will be required.
• The Andes virus, linked to the outbreak, may rarely spread between people, prompting health officials to enforce a lengthy quarantine due to its incubation period of one to eight weeks.
• Passengers arrived with minimal belongings and have been receiving deliveries and special meals featuring local Nebraska cuisine, while hospital staff work to make their quarantine stay comfortable, including providing internet access and personal items.
• A twelfth hantavirus case was confirmed in the Netherlands, and worldwide, twelve people linked to the MV Hondius have fallen ill, with three deaths reported earlier; over 600 contacts in 30 countries remain under monitoring.
• The CDC retains authority over quarantine duration decisions, with each passenger’s case evaluated individually, as new cases continue to inform public health responses and protocols.