5 American Cruise Ship Passengers Leave Nebraska Quarantine Facility

Five American cruise ship passengers exposed to hantavirus will leave Nebraska’s quarantine facility after meeting health criteria, U.S. officials announced Monday. The five, who arrived three weeks ago at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, have shown no symptoms and will complete their 42-day monitoring at home under daily state oversight. Federal officials coordinated their travel with biocontainment measures, ensuring they avoid commercial flights. The passengers were part of 18 Americans quarantined after a deadly Andes virus outbreak on a South Atlantic cruise ship, which has caused 13 confirmed or probable cases and three deaths, according to the World Health Organization. None of the U.S. passengers have developed symptoms, though hantavirus can take up to 42 days to manifest, with most cases appearing within 21 days. Two of the returning passengers live near New York City, while one remaining passenger, Jake Rosmarin, chose to stay in Omaha for medical access and to avoid potential exposure risks. Rosmarin, who blogs daily about his experience, described the quarantine as traumatic and said he will remain until he is certain he poses no risk to others. Health officials emphasize the Andes virus has not been confirmed in the U.S., and the public risk remains low. State health departments will continue 24/7 monitoring of the remaining passengers, who were previously ordered to stay after two attempted early departures. The quarantine follows the rare person-to-person transmission risk linked to the Andes virus strain.