U.S. cruise passengers settle in for 42 days of waiting : NPR

Key Points:

• Over a dozen American cruise passengers exposed to a hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius have been quarantined at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for 42 days starting May 11, with daily monitoring for symptoms.
• The hantavirus outbreak on the ship has infected at least 11 people and caused three deaths, but the quarantined passengers currently show no symptoms and are kept under close medical supervision to prevent spread.
• Some exposed Americans are quarantining at home across several states, following CDC guidance including daily health checks, mask-wearing, physical distancing, and avoiding shared personal items and crowded places.
• Health officials emphasize that hantavirus spreads through prolonged contact with symptomatic individuals, and while home quarantine is voluntary for now, legal orders could be issued if compliance falters.
• Experts note the seriousness of hantavirus, which can rapidly worsen, and stress the importance of access to advanced medical care during quarantine, while also calling for stricter protocols in healthcare settings.