5 things to know about the quarantined Americans from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship

Seventeen Americans and one British national were evacuated from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius on Sunday and quarantined in Nebraska or Georgia. Sixteen were taken to the National Quarantine Center at the University of Nebraska, while two with mild symptoms were sent to Emory University in Atlanta. One person tested positive for hantavirus but remains asymptomatic, while another showed mild symptoms but has not tested positive yet. The quarantine facilities in Nebraska include a hotel-like space for asymptomatic patients and a Biocontainment Unit for those needing medical care. Officials noted that the unit has limited capacity, currently around two to three beds for hantavirus cases but could expand for airborne illnesses. The two patients in Georgia are also in a Biocontainment Unit, which can serve as quarantine space if needed. Most evacuated passengers are currently symptom-free, though health officials expect some may develop symptoms in the coming days. The strain detected is Andes virus, which can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a potentially deadly lung infection. CDC officials clarified that symptoms being monitored may not necessarily indicate hantavirus infection, as they are using broad criteria for observation. Health officials stressed that the risk of hantavirus spreading like COVID-19 remains extremely low, with all precautions in place to contain the virus. The exact duration of quarantine is unclear but is expected to last at least a few days. Passengers range in age from their late 20s to late 70s or early 80s, with one British dual national opting to be accommodated in the U.S. The National Quarantine Center in Nebraska has previously handled Ebola patients and early COVID-19 cases, while the Biocontainment Unit is equipped for high-risk infectious diseases. The CDC’s acting director for high-consequence pathogens emphasized the cautious approach to monitoring symptoms to ensure early detection and containment.