A news release from the University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine says after spending three weeks at the National Quarantine Unit at UNMC in Omaha, five former passengers from the MV Hondius have returned to their home states for continued monitoring for the next 21 days under the jurisdiction of their local and state public health departments.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requested the individuals from the cruise ship associated with a Hantavirus outbreak remain at the NQU through Sunday, May 31st.
Travel for the former passengers was coordinated through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response and each passenger’s local and state health department.
Nebraska Medicine says the individuals did not travel commercially, and appropriate biocontainment measures were in place during their transport.
The CDC has also been coordinating with impacted states on requirements for the passengers to continue self-monitoring at their homes.
Because symptoms of Hantavirus can take up to 42 days to appear, all 18 of the former passengers were strongly encouraged to complete the entire period at the NQU.
Thirteen of the passengers remain in Omaha for monitoring.
(Picture from Nebraska Medicine)